A true legend in the baking, owner Evelyn Pocock is a true testament of what happens when you bake it til you make it!  “When life handed her lemons with the introduction of the pandemic in early 2020, Evelyn took those lemons and turned them into delicious scones. Baking from her basement apartment, Evelyn started with small bespoke orders for neighbours, family and friends. Through word-of-mouth her talents and passion for baking expanded beyond her immediate connections, and it became evident that she needed to expand.

A calculated whisk taker, Evelyn decided to set up shop and build her own kitchen in Beaverton. Everything from the beautiful floors to the counters to the walls themselves were of her design, and in August of 2021 she opened up shop.  We were thrilled to ask Evelyn a few questions about her Underground Bake Shop in our Community Spotlight.

Is this your first time owning a local business and if so, was it always a dream of yours?

Yes, it’s my first time owning any business and yes, it was a dream but not one I ever thought would come to fruition. Thankfully I have a very supportive (& persuasive) family to thank for it becoming a reality.

Why the name Underground Bake Shop?

In the early days of COVID, I began baking out of my basement apartment for friends and neighbours mostly and thus began the Underground Bake Shop because I was literally under the ground.

What do you love the most about baking and what do you hope people gain from stopping by the Underground Bake Shop? 

There is a lot to love about baking. I love working with new and changing ingredients, I love learning through my hands the different textures that come with my work. I love the smells & obviously the tastes. An unexpected love has also been the opportunity to bring things back and honour loved ones through their recipes being passed onto me. I can’t even begin to explain how special that is.

As perhaps naive as this sounds, I hope people gain a little light from my shop. Whether it be a warm cup, something sweet or just a little chit chat while they’re in- I hope that my shop is able to improve their day even slightly. I hope it brings people together and that serendipity is able to play it’s part in neighbours bumping into each other in line or through random acts of kindness which we’re already seeing. There is a poem that I reflect on regularly by Ralph Walso Emerson, “success should be measured by whether or not someone else has breathed easier because you existed”  and that’s something I really hope to be able to do.

Are you new to Beaverton and if so, did you recently move to this area?

Yes & No. My family has had a cottage on Lake Simcoe my entire life and in Beaverton for 19 years so my weekends, summers and school breaks were here. I went to day camp in Beaverton. My best and most cherished memories are here however, I didn’t move here full-time until this past spring during the early days of Bake Shop construction.

What is your favourite thing about owning a local business?

The ability to strike up and build relationships (friendships) is my favourite thing about owning a local and small business. As much as my business is food, it’s the people who make me successful and it’s something I hold near and dear to my heart. Additionally, the freedom to create in my kitchen is my favourite. I like being able to constantly work on the menu. It’s surreal that people are buying and enjoying things that I make and although my work days are longer than I ever have, it’s extremely satisfying to feel like I’m a major part of building something.

What is your five-year plan for the Underground Bake Shop?

That’s a great question. For the first month and a half (and pre-opening) of business, I was very concerned about failing right from the get-go. I don’t think I really allowed myself to consider what the five-year plan could be because I was so consumed with the various ways the shop could go wrong. I’m not normally this pessimistic but in all honesty, I was just scared. I’ve never taken on something like this before. Now that I’m able to take a bit of a breath and be more present on a daily basis, I’m hopeful that Underground will remain and maybe even expand over the next five years in whatever capacity makes the most sense. I hope that my regulars are still regulars and that I continue to get glimpses into their lives and routines. And like anything, as I continue to grow and learn, I plan to continually improve Underground as a business and as a whole with the products we make, and brands we work alongside. As far as I’m concerned, there are and always will be things to improve on and I hope that we continue to do that.

You have such a creative and impressive website, where does your creativity stem from?

I wish I could take credit for this, alas it was my brilliant and beautiful sister who created my website and who does the majority of my social media posts. I don’t know where she gets her creativity from either, it seems to be innately her and entirely unparalleled.

What does Evelyn like to do in her free time?

Funnily enough, I love to cook, especially for others.  I likes movies, being outdoors, and reading. I love the lake and although I am hugely uncoordinated, I do really enjoy trying new things and appreciate a good laugh at myself.  I am also especially gifted at breaking wine glasses.

If you had any words of encouragement or advice for someone thinking of opening up their own business to follow their dreams, what would they be?

Build a strong support net. While lots of people can and will make it entirely on their own- it is so much easier and more enjoyable to do it with others.

The Underground Bakeshop is located at 425 Mara Road in Beaverton and we can’t wait to see what Evelyn bakes in the future!  For more information on Underground Bakeshop, please visit undergroundbakeshop.ca and you can also follow Underground Bake Shop on Instagram to see what she is baking next at:  Underground Bakeshop.