ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — “The Sweeter Things in Life.”

That’s what’s on the menu at The Bake Shoppe Cafe, located on Highway 59 in Robertsdale and for its owners, Juan and Jessica Martinez, since their June 1, 2010, opening, life has indeed been “sweet.”

Specializing in homemade sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, breakfast and bakery items at affordable prices, business for this quaint little deli has been steadily increasing every week.

“One day we had about 80 people in here at lunchtime. That was the busiest hour I have ever seen. We had people standing up, sitting down and lined up against the counters and walls but we got them all fed. It was the best week we have had all summer,” sad Martinez.

Good food and good service are the goals Martinez is striving for and both were evident when stopping by for lunch this week. Martinez said they try to accommodate everyone’s taste and budget and thought about those things as they were planning the menu.

Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Martinez, 29, moved to Naples, Fla., with his family in 1989 to be near his grandparents, who owned an Italian restaurant. And in that restaurant, he got his first job experience and developed a love for cooking, Martinez said.

During the last two years of high school, Martinez took classes at the Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology Culinary School and graduated from both in 1999. His first job as a sous chef at Lely Resort Country Club in Naples inspired him to experiment with different recipes and sharpen his cooking skills.

“I’ve always wanted to cook and enjoy creating new recipes and experimenting with different ingredients,” Martinez said.

After working in all kinds of venues, including a restaurant equipment company that allowed him to see what it took to put together a restaurant from scratch, Martinez decided it was time to open one of his own.

“I was driving 300 miles a day all over Mobile and Baldwin County and felt like I needed to be home with my family. I had learned so much from every place i worked and gained lots of experience. And that experience gave me the knowledge to open my own place,” Martinez said.

After six months of planning and two months of renovating, the cafe was finally ready for customers and the best part is it was already paid for, Martinez said.

“We began in April buying used equipment and was able to pay for it as we went along. And my younger brother came up from Naples and painted the mural on the wall and all our family helped paint and build counters and cabinets,” Martinez explained.

And so far, Martinez and his wife, Jessica, who he met while they both worked at Applebee’s in Foley, have found it to be a fun and learning experience.

“We make all our own stuff, except the breads and use fresh ingredients for everything. Nothing is prepared ahead of time which makes it all the better for the customer,” Martinez said.

There is not one favorite thing Martinez likes to make but said wedding cakes were by far the hardest because of all the details. He recalls making seven different cakes for a 15 years olds “Quincinera” (Mexican birthday) and started at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning and finished by noon, just in time for the party.

In addition to the restaurant, Martinez does catering as well while Jessica is a wedding photographer. “We have a wedding on Oct. 16 and we are doing the cake, the catering and the pictures,” Martinez said smiling.

With the addition of a grill this week, the cafe will be offering burgers, phillies and grilled fish dishes and a new menu will be coming out on Monday, Martinez said.

And plans are in the works for a cupcake bakery to be opened in Tallahassee within the next year, Martinez said, with his sister and her business partner running it.

When Juan and Jessica are away from the cafe, they enjoy spending time with their 2 1/2 year old daughter, Brooklynn, going swimming and to the movies. They are also members of First Baptist Church of Robertsdale.

“We love the restaurant business but spending time with family and friends is really important too,” Martinez said.

To contact The Bake Shoppe Cafe, call (251) 947-4701.