There’s a bustling, pastel pink coloured cake shop in the city’s Southside that might never have come to be if a former dry cleaner had not found her passion for all things sweet during the lockdowns of 2020.
Margaret (Mags) Jane Stuart McLean is the talent behind MJ Bakes Glasgow in Nitshill, a small-but-mighty bakery which has grown from a simple pastime to an award-nominated business in the space of just a few years.
Looking back to where it all began, she said: “The only reason that I fell into baking was because of covid.
“During lockdown everyone seemed to be trying it, didn’t they?
“When I first started out, I was terrible. I remember a banana bread which came out looking like a pork pie and looking back at photos of my first cupcakes now makes me cringe.
“But, I enjoyed it and there was nothing else to do so I just kept at it.
“It’s mad to think that I could otherwise have gone through my whole life without realising how much I love baking.”
As her confidence in a newfound passion began to grow, Mags took to social media to share photos of her handiwork which soon saw friends and family clamouring to place their own orders for bespoke bakes.
With bills to pay and finding herself in a difficult financial situation like so many others at the time, the 47-year-old began to wonder if she could turn her hobby into a profession and credits a family member for giving a much-needed push to establish MJ Bakes.
She said: “It was actually my cousin who said to me ‘You have nothing to lose, why don’t you just give it a go’?
“So, I sat and did all of my courses online while sitting out the back of my house and when lockdown ended there were queues outside my door for cakes.
“I had to put balloons in my window so that people wouldn’t go to my neighbours by mistake.
“To get my name out there I even dressed up as an elf to deliver my Christmas orders.
“It was hard work when I started but now it all seems worth it.”
The bakery began as a celebration cake and cupcake business which soon started to cause problems as orders continued to flood in leaving the skilled baker with little space to work with in her home kitchen.
It was clearly time to branch out.
But, having never even considered starting her own business before let alone opening a shop, another huge leap of faith would be required for Mags to fully commit to MJ Bakes.
She explained: “My dream was always to open a shop but even though I was busy all the time it still seemed really risky.
“There were so many times when I questioned if I would be able to do it, especially during a cost of living crisis.
“I almost cried when I got my first electricity bill through but again just reminded myself why I was doing this.
“On the first day of opening in October last year, we had people queuing up in the rain and sold out within 45 minutes.
“It was crazy, and I still get a lump in my throat when I think about it because I’m just so grateful.
“There’s no way it would have happened without the support of the Nitshhill community or my family and friends.”
The incredible success of opening day was a welcome sign of things to come with MJ Bakes now selling a huge selection of treats including stuffed cookies, brownies, cookie pies and blondies infused with flavours like Kinder Beuno or Reese’s Peanut Butter every week.
And it’s still just the beginning for Mags and her team (which includes her daughter Hannah and best friend Julie) who have recently opened an online postal order service and plan to hit a number of foodie festivals this year.
Hoping that her amazing tale will serve as inspiration for others to follow their dreams at any stage in life she said: “If you love something and you want it hard enough you have to just go for it and eventually you will get there.
“The other day we had two girls come all the way from Edinburgh to try our cakes and we get foodies from social media in quite often.
“It’s crazy to think that out of all the places in Glasgow someone would choose us.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried since opening because I’m so incredibly thankful for the way things have turned out.
“I would encourage anyone to follow their dreams, even if worried you might fail.
“It’s the most amazing feeling ever.”
MJ Bakes Glasgow is located at Unit 13 of the Museum Business Park on Woodhead Road in Nitshill and is open from Thursday to Saturday.
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