Sweet Impact, owned and operated by Robert Lucas, welcomed eager patrons to its grand opening on Saturday, April 6th. As anticipation built, a lengthy queue formed outside the establishment, stretching across the parking lot in anticipation of the doors unlocking at 11 a.m.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as Sweet Impact provided a lively soundtrack courtesy of a DJ, setting the stage for attendees to indulge in Lucas’s delectable treats and show their support for his venture.
Lucas, who got into baking in 2019, originally had gotten the space located at 602 Brannen St. to serve as a studio space for him to practice his baking and create content for his rising success as a content creator. His success, covered here, led to the inquisition of many locals who would wander up to him, wondering, “What are you doing here, and how can you try your treats?”
Inspired by the growing curiosity, Lucas felt it was time to expand his location into a storefront, offering his sweets to the general public.
The storefront which is located behind Jiffy Lube and Elliano’s, is the first new business to reopen in the plaza, which once was empty. The Statesboro city manager, Charles Penny, was there in attendance for Sweet Impact’s grand opening and shared, “I am very happy for him, of course, and for his success as a baker and business owner. I am also happy to see activity going on in this center. It’s really an ideal space, so I’m happy to finally see it going to good use.”
Penny is hopeful that this can help revitalize this area and bring overall new life to the plaza. Also in line for the grand opening were many family members, including Sandra Wallance Nethels, who was proud to be there supporting the opening of Lucas’s new business.
At the ribbon cutting, Lucas shared how pleasantly surprised he was by the turnout and after noting his journey, he offered a deep thank you to the public for their support. Inside, smiling staff members greeted the expansive line of guests, and worked as a strong team to serve all of the customers quickly and kindly.
Sweet Impact’s menu includes an extremely popular cheesecake jar in both chocolate and strawberry, various flavors of cookies, cosmic brownies, and specialty cupcakes, including chocolate, key lime, and strawberry. Lucas’s inventory also includes t-shirts and other Sweet Impact swag. The storefront has a very fresh and bright feel to it, a small lounge area for guests to sit and enjoy, and an open view of the kitchen area, where Lucas and some of his team were working diligently.
Sweet Impact's successful grand opening underscored their commitment to community engagement. In addition to the festivities at their storefront, the Sweet Impact team also participated in the local farmers market, showcasing their delicious offerings and further strengthening ties with the community.
Lucas expressed his overall gratitude to the community for making the launch of his storefront such a success, and continued, “Being able to do all of this really is like living a dream. I’m so proud to be here, and I know it’s only just the start. I couldn’t do it without all of the support from my family and loved ones. I know my dedication to the craft has paid off, and I just truly love baking and seeing it put a smile on people’s faces.”
It’s clear that Lucas has already had an impact on Statesboro, and Lucas looks forward to the future and continuing to create new treats for everyone to enjoy.
Currently offering in store or online purchasing, you all can visit Lucas and his team in person by checking out the storefront Tuesday through Friday from 11am - 6pm, and Saturday from 11am - 4pm. The Sweet Impact is located at 602 Brannen St Suite 1, Statesboro, GA 30458. You can also keep up with him on social media at:
