Newspaper Page Text
The Champion, Thursday, May 21 - 27, 2015
BUSINESS
Page 18A
Asian bakery a hit in Atlanta and beyond
Seated from left are Rachel Ewe, Amy Ewe, Howie Ewe and Patrick Ewe, who all have a role in the family busi
ness. Standing behind them is another family member who also works at Sweet Hut. Photo by Kathy Mitchell
by Kathy Mitchell
Three years ago when the
Ewe family opened a bakery
on Buford Highway, they
weren’t sure whether Atlan
ta area diners would like the
Asian baked goods the shop
offers. “Most of them are
lighter than the baked goods
you usually find in America.
The sweet items are less
sweet and there’s less fat,”
explained Howie Ewe, one
of the owners.
“We already owned this
property and we all had
experience in the restaurant
business, so we decided to
take a chance,” he said.
The family needn’t have
been concerned; Sweet Hut
was an immediate success.
The owners report dine-in
customers often are unable
to find a seat and at times
there are long lines, espe
cially on weekends. As a
result, they have opened a
second location in midtown
and have plans to expand
the Buford Highway shop
and open additional Sweet
Huts in Cobb and Gwinett
counties.
“Asian people love being
able to find authentic baked
goods like the ones their
mothers used to make,”
Howie Ewe said. “That’s
our specialty—home-style
treats more like what is
baked at home than what
you usually find in a bakery
or restaurant.”
The items are a hit out
side the Asian community as
well, he added. “We have a
very international clientele.
Americans and people from
non-Asian countries like
them as well. People are
very health conscious these
days, but they still enjoy
sweets. The lighter baked
goods are especially appeal
ing to young people.”
Customers come not only
from all across the metro
politan Atlanta area, but also
from other Georgia cities
and from neighboring states.
“There’s nothing like this
in most of the Southeast,”
Howie Ewe said. “People
drive from Alabama, Ten
nessee and other states to
shop here.”
His niece Rachel Ewe,
who manages the midtown
store, said young people like
having places to hang out
and have snacks while visit
ing with friends or work
ing on personal computers.
“This is an alternative to
the coffee shops,” she said,
noting that Sweet Hut offers
more than 50 tea, milk and
fruit drinks in addition to a
wide variety of coffee op
tions.”
She said young custom
ers also like the atmosphere.
“The chairs are comfortable
and the tables are perfect
for a computer. The decor
and colors are relaxing and
inviting.”
The dozens of baked
goods at the Buford High
way store are sold in a self-
serve cafeteria format. Cus
tomers take a tray covered
with a sheet of waxed paper
then use tongs to place their
selections on the tray. At the
end of the line, a cashier to
tals the order which is boxed
for the customers.
The most popular items
are buns stuffed with sweets
such as coconut or fruit
or with such savories as
barbecued pork or curried
chicken. “The Portuguese
egg tart is very popular, too.
We sell about 800 of those a
day,” Howie Ewe said of the
cupcake-sized custard baked
in a pastry shell.
After expansion of the
Buford Highway store is
complete, it—like the mid
town store—will offer sand
wiches, salads and burgers.
Many items familiar to
Americans are prepared
with an Asian influence
such as the Bulgogi burger,
which is a ground beef patty
topped with Bulgogi sauce
and vegetables not usually
found on American burgers,
including cucumbers, baby
spinach and pickled carrots.
“We are Malaysian,”
Howie Ewe said, “but we
offer foods influenced by
China, Japan and other
Asian countries.” Some,
he added, have an Ameri
can twist, such as the bun
laced with hot dog bits and
cheese.
The products are baked
fresh daily at a central loca
tion, using locally sourced
ingredients, when they
are available, according to
Howie Ewe. “We choose
our bakers carefully. Even
those from outside the fam
ily must know Asian baking
techniques.”
Family members say
they have been approached
by several national and in
ternational companies that
are interested in creating a
Sweet Hut franchise. “We’re
not ready to do that right
now,” Rachel Ewe said. “We
may do it at some time in
the future, but it’s very im
portant to us to control the
quality of our products and
we can’t consider franchis
ing until we’re sure that we
can do that.”
Millage Rate Public Hearing
The City of Doraville has tentatively adopted a millage rate of 8.5 mills.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to
be held at the Doraville City Hall located at 3725 Park Avenue, Doraville, GA
30340 on June 1,2015 at 6:30pm.
Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at the
Doraville City Hall on June 8, 2015 at 6:30pm and on June 15, 2015 at 6:30pm.
NOTICE OF
PROPERY TAX INCREASE
The DeKalb County School District has tentatively adopted a millage rate which will
require an increase in property taxes by 10.47 percent.
All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be held at
6:15 p.m. June 1, 2015, DeKalb County School District J. David Williamson Board Room,
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia
Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at:
11:30 a.m. June 17, 2015, DeKalb County School District J. David Williamson
Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia
6:15 p.m. June 17, 2015, DeKalb County School District J. David Williamson
Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia
This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 23.98 mills, an increase of 2.272
mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more than 21.708
mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $175,000 is
approximately $130.64 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with
a fair market value of $275,000 is approximately $249.92.
DeKalb Cham ber.
Til! IPOMTH Of 0*1 Voict
COLLABORATION
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce • Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave., Suite, Decatur, GA 30030 • 404.378.8000 • www.dekalbchamber.org