11/27/2025
Hello all — allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lauren. I live here in Brick, and I’m a wifey, a mama, a baker, a cake designer… and the new owner of 502 Baking Company, where I’ve proudly been since July.
I’ve been a small business owner and cake designer for over 13 years. For most of that time, cake design lived as a side passion. One year ago, I was unexpectedly laid off from a job I’d held for five years — a job that had grown exhausting and one I stayed in far longer than I should have. I could have found something similar, settling back into a field I had no love for.
Instead, with a big push of encouragement from my husband, I decided to follow the thing that has always lit me up. In a wonderfully serendipitous twist, I came across 502, and before long, I became its new owner this past July.
You’ll notice some changes around the bakery — from the look of the space to a few of the items we offer — but the classics you know and love are staying right where they belong. Alongside them, I’ll be bringing in new bakes, and of course, custom cakes and sweets are my specialty. I can’t wait to share that part of my heart with you and be a small, sweet piece of your celebrations. And on the ordinary days, I hope to make those a little sweeter too. We’ll continue to offer gluten-free favorites, with more great additions on the way.
502 is truly a family affair. You’ll almost certainly meet my kids, my parents, or my husband when you stop in — and I love it that way. Family is everything to me, and I look forward to expanding that family through this community. I can’t wait to meet you and bake you something delicious.
I also want to express deep gratitude to Toni and Les for creating this bakery and entrusting me to carry it forward. Toni, thank you for your guidance, your recipes, your wisdom, for sticking around, and for becoming a mentor. Your stories — in baking and in life — have meant more than you know.
To my husband, Jake — thank you for pushing me back toward my passion and your inspiration.
To my parents — thank you for everything. I truly could not have done this without you. Thank you for coming out of retirement to become builders, baking assistants, janitors, delivery crew… whatever was, and still is, needed.
To my brother — thank you for being my custom builder and for your vision, time and love.
To my sisters and friends — from the ones who scrubbed floors to the ones who sent encouragement at just the right moments, thank you.
To my incredible staff — thank you for your loyalty, your patience, and for trusting me in this new chapter. This place runs because of you.
To my babies — my reasons for everything — thank you for being the troopers you are and my reminder to always keep going.
And finally, to our customers — thank you for your continued support. And to the Brick community and all future customers, I can’t wait to welcome you in and bake you something wonderful.
In this season of thanks, I want to express my gratitude to each of you — for the warm welcome, the encouragement, and the excitement surrounding this new chapter. I’m truly honored to be here, and I can’t wait to grow, bake, and celebrate alongside you all. 🖤
