Photo Story: The Lovin' Oven
The Lovin’ Oven, located at 240 E Ida Street, Stayton, Oregon, on March 10. The Lovin’ Oven, a family owned and operated business, has been serving Stayton, Oregon, and the surrounding areas for nearly 30 years. Started in 1983 by a woman named Doreen Hellemn, who started selling her hand-baked cakes out of her home. Baking in a small kitchen on the side of her house in Stayton, Hellemn sold wedding cakes and started baking a handful of cakes every week for Gerry Frank's Konditorei—a bakery and cafe in Salem, Oregon. In 1987, Valerie Schultz began to work under Hellemn, assisting her for about six years before she, and her husband Mike, bought The Lovin’ Oven in 1993. After a rocky few first years, Mike made the difficult transition from logger with Lulay Timber Co, to a self-employed baker, and they eased their way into the baking industry as business owners. After establishing themselves as the new owners, they bought a small shop on 3rd Avenue, Stayton, Oregon. For a