Opening the East Side Bakery fulfilled a life long dream for Nikki Schutter, but almost as important to Nikki was the chance for the bakery’s building to reclaim its role as a neighborhood gathering place.

East Side Bakery is located at 1330 East 12th Street, just west of the Village of East Davenport, which is on the edge of renewal. The building has served the Mount Ida neighborhood for more than 120 years, through periods of prosperity and decline. Starting out as the Mount Ida Meat Market, the bakery’s building later housed Holst’s Market and then Cases and Kegs. Located in the “Bridge to Ridge” neighborhood renewal project, this commercial area is beginning to draw the attention of new businesses as homes in the area are revitalized.

Nikki has undergone a revitalization project of her own. Coming to the area from Montana following a divorce, Nikki worked for the ICE Railroad. She faced serious personal and financial struggles but managed to overcome them all. She purchased her own home in the Mount Ida neighborhood and built a savings for the future. When her job at the railroad was transferred to South Dakota, she was determined to remain in the Quad Cities where she had made a home for herself and her two sons. Nikki wanted to open her own business so she turned to the Eastern Iowa Small Business Development Center for help.

“I knew that I could bake, but I had no idea how to start my own business,” Nikki said. “So I enrolled in BootCamp for Entrepreneurs through the SBDC.” BootCamp is an 8 hour course that helps entrepreneurs get a good start on their business. The day-long course covers business planning, market research, taxes, forms of business, basic bookkeeping and finance. Nikki added, “BootCamp was just the start I needed. After attending the class, I worked with Ann to find financing for my business.”

Ann Hutchinson, director of the Eastern Iowa SBDC, found the necessary financing for Nikki’s business through the SBA Community Express program. “We were able to help Nikki secure funding through the BLX Community Express program,” Ann explained. “Nikki lacked collateral but had built an excellent credit record since coming to the Quad Cities. That, combined with her savings record, helped her secure a $25,000 loan to purchase equipment, inventory and working capital to start the business.”

East Side Bakery specializes in Nikki’s fabulous breads and pastries, but also serves pizza and sandwiches. The neighborhood is pleased with the business. Her grand opening on May 20, 2006 brought an estimated 250 people into the 1,000 square foot bakery. “Things are going well,” Nikki says. “Running a small business is really hard work, but my sons are helping out a lot, and I think we all have a great future. It is a big risk, but I just feel good about it from the neighborhood reaction.”