Satisfying a sweet tooth while facing dietary restrictions is no cakewalk. From allergies, intolerances, or lifestyle choices finding hypoallergenic sweets is a challenge, especially in a small town like Brockport. Luckily, Frances Rezek is bringing a new kind of sweetness to Brockport. The opening of her business Simply Love Bakery on Oct. 3 makes her 15-year-old dream now a reality, providing allergen-free goods to those with dietary restrictions.
Rezek’s passion for baking stems from her own firsthand troubles with finding food to not only eat but enjoy.
“I am severely allergic to cinnamon, I’m gluten sensitive, and I can’t have onion or garlic. So, I do have some weird food allergies,” Rezek said.
According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), one in ten adults and one in thirteen children have a food allergy. Prevalence among children specifically has been increasing for decades, up 50 percent between 1997 and 2011, and up again by 50 percent between 2007 and 2021.
Simply Love Bakery items are egg, dairy, wheat, gluten, soy, and nut free, making treats easily accessible, even for those who may not have a specific allergy but an intolerance or a chosen food lifestyle.
SUNY Brockport sophomore Camille Collins has been struggling to find easily accessible baked goods since her lactose intolerance diagnosis. Luckily Simply Love Bakery will allow her to finally indulge in sweet treats without worrying about the negative side effects.
“I got an endoscopy done, and they sampled my lactate enzymes. They said I have a low amount compared to a normal person, which means I do not digest lactose well,” Collins said.
Along with having a lactose intolerance, a boyfriend who is gluten free, a vegan mother and a sister who can’t consume egg whites, red meat or anything with soy, food alternatives are costly for the Collins family.
“Wegmans normally sells stuff, but it is so expensive. Unfortunately, a lot of times it is easier for me to just eat stuff and suffer later,” Collins said.
Rezek hopes that her new storefront can provide customers with safe, close and relatively affordable baked options.
“It’s very rewarding seeing people light up having cakes that they’ve not usually gotten because they have an allergy of some sort and other bakeries can’t necessarily accommodate,” Rezek said. “There’s a couple of bakeries out here, but not anything that’s food sensitive. Otherwise, you have to go Henrietta area or further.”
Prior to opening the store, Rezek carried out her passion and business attending farmers’ markets, vegan conventions and local events since 2021. Although Simply Love Bakery is a solo venture, Rezek has had the support of family and friends from day one. Her father and long-time friend Garrus Martin have been by her side, helping to bring her dream to life.
“I’ve been friends with Fran since I was 14 and we’ve known each other since middle school,” Martin said. “I helped her out with the farmers market and since then, it’s grown a lot.”
The Martin and Rezek families have been friends for years, sharing a bond that extends beyond business. Their long-standing friendship has allowed them to support each other through life’s sweet and bitter moments.
“It is hard to find anything like Simply Love Bakery, especially when it is low sugar,” Martin said. “It is type-2 diabetic friendly. I am also type-2 diabetic and Fran’s father was also type-2 diabetic.”
Rezek honors her father’s memory by baking with his diabetic-friendly preferences in mind. His encouragement inspires her to create custom cakes that bring joy to those with dietary restrictions, allowing them to celebrate their holidays with allergen-friendly cakes.
“My dad was diabetic,” Rezek said. “I’ve always put lower sugar in my food than most other people. He kinda helped inspire me. My dad was always like, ‘Your stuff is good, go do it,’ so I’m kind of doing it in his honor. He passed away two years ago.”
Originally, Rezek’s long term goal was to operate her bakery business out of a food truck.
“My vision changed a little bit with the rules of the health department and all that stuff. I found out I needed to have a commercial kitchen anyways, so I was like, ‘Well let’s start with the storefront, and then I could always do the food truck down the road,’” Rezek said.
Despite the long process of obtaining the bakery space and running her business solo, Rezek’s optimism remains fueled by customer interactions.
“It’s been so much planning for the last three years,” Rezek said. “But I actually had a customer who’s already come three times in the two weeks I’ve been here. It’s awesome.”
Simply Love Bakery has a variety of treats, flavors and dietary-free options that customers can purchase. Even with a simple list of ingredients, the recipes come together as seamlessly as cookies and milk. From classic flavors to creative options, Rezek’s bakery provides treats everyone can enjoy, no matter their dietary needs.
As Simply Love Bakery continues to settle into its new home at 4756 Lake Road South, Fran Rezek’s dedication to providing safe, allergen-free options is already making an impact in the community. Whether it’s through her store-front or local markets, Rezek’s passion for inclusive baking is evident– and for those with food sensitivities, her food bakery is a sweet treat in more ways than one.
