September 2026 Business of the Month: Ceesa’s Baked Goods
From a Few Loaves to a Local Favorite: Ceesa’s Baked Goods
September 2026 Business of the Month • By Austin Hall, Groovin’ in the Grove
People are driving hours for baked goods some of us haven’t discovered in our own town yet. If you haven’t met Clareesa, the woman behind Ceesa’s Baked Goods, our community just gave you a good reason to.
Ceesa’s Baked Goods is Groovin’ in the Grove’s September Business of the Month, chosen through community voting. What started with just 1–3 loaves a week at a family farm stand has grown into a Cottage Grove micro-bakery with customers coming back from California, Washington, and cities hours away.
Then there are the blackberry and peach cobbler cinnamon rolls, which brought in over 50 orders when she introduced them. If you’re already looking for the address, I put it below. But the story behind the name deserves a little of your time, too.
I asked Clareesa about her family, how she got started, and why keeping things small matters to her. Here’s our conversation, with my questions and her answers shared exactly as written.
Meet Clareesa, the Baker Behind Ceesa’s
For anyone discovering Ceesa’s Baked Goods for the first time, tell us a little about yourself and how the business began.
Hi, my name is Clareesa, I was born and raised in Oregon and have lived in Cottage Grove for 25 years. I’m married and have two amazing daughters. Ceesa’s Baked Goods started from something pretty simple: I wanted healthier bread and baked goods for my own kids and family, but I also wanted to make a little extra money on the side while doing something I genuinely enjoyed. I started making only 1-3 loaves of bread a week for our family farm stand… I never expected it would turn into what it is now.
Where did your love of baking come from, and is there a story behind the name Ceesa’s?
My love for baking started in my childhood kitchen with my mom. She has always made homemade bread and healthy foods for all of us. My oldest sister also graduated from Le Cordon Bleu as a pastry chef, so I was lucky to have multiple people who knew their way around a kitchen and had a genuine love for baking.
The name Ceesa’s has an even more personal story. “Ceesa” was a nickname my brother gave me when I was little, and since so much of my love for baking started with my family and childhood, I decided to carry that part of my story into the name of my small business.
What makes your baked goods special, and what do you hope people experience when they try them?
What makes my baked goods special is, of course, being small-batch, so the time and quality of ingredients are never compromised. But also knowing people are willing to travel from California, Washington and cities a few hours away just to restock on their favorites. It’s become something people genuinely look forward to and make a point to come back for. With all of the heavily processed foods in the world today, I want my customers to experience real, homemade and high quality baked goods where everything is made from scratch.
Sourdough, Cinnamon Rolls, and Memorable Orders
If someone could try only one item from Ceesa’s, what would you recommend—and what is your personal favorite?
This a hard one for sure! I honestly don’t feel like I have one item I could take off the menu that wouldn’t be missed. But if i had to recommend just one, I’d say the original sourdough is the go to. It’s versatile and classic, and if you love the original, you’ll love exploring the other sourdough flavors with inclusions, too.
What has been the most memorable order, customer reaction, or moment in your journey so far?
The most memorable time and a touch of crazy was when I launched my blackberry and peach cobbler cinnamon rolls and got over 50 orders. It was such a special experience to see how many people were excited to try something I had created. There has been so many amazing moments and feedback from my customers and I am so grateful for everyone that has taken a chance on purchasing from me.
Community Recognition and What Comes Next
What does being chosen as Business of the Month by the community mean to you?
Being chosen as Business of the Month is an exciting reminder of how far Ceesa’s Baked Goods has come. It’s amazing to see my small business reaching so many people, and it motivates me to keep baking for our supportive community. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to share more about Ceesa’s, and spread the word about my business.
What’s next for Ceesa’s Baked Goods, and is there anything else you would like the community to know?
Ceesa’s Baked Goods will remain small-batch. I’ve had many customers ask if I’ll ever open a large-scale bakery, but quality over quantity is important to me, and I’m not willing to sacrifice that. I want every item I make to receive the care, and quality it deserves and for you to receive something I’m genuinely proud of. When we’re sold out, we’re sold out, but there will always be more the following week.
I’m so thankful for this community that has helped grow Ceesa’s from a couple of loaves one day a week to 25+ loaves, cinnamon rolls, cookies, and so much more. This would obviously not be possible without you. So thank you!
Find Ceesa’s Baked Goods in Cottage Grove
Ceesa’s Baked Goods is a farmstand micro-bakery specializing in 24-hour fermented sourdough, vegan sourdough cinnamon rolls, homestyle wheat breads, and fresh-baked cookies. Everything is made from scratch using organic flour and simple ingredients.
Address: 1811 Bennett Creek Rd, Cottage Grove, OR
Phone: (541) 513-7961
Ordering and availability: Message Ceesa’s Baked Goods on Facebook or contact Clareesa by phone.
A Childhood Nickname Worth Remembering
The part that stuck with me was her brother giving her the nickname Ceesa. Back then, it was what he called his little sister. Now it’s the name customers recommend to their friends and the business our community chose to recognize this month.
That’s one of my favorite parts of doing these interviews. You might recognize a business name or have tried something they make, but there’s usually something you wouldn’t know unless you asked.
Congratulations, Clareesa, and thank you to everyone who voted. If this story introduced you to Ceesa’s, give her a follow, ask about her next batch, or share this with someone who would appreciate a good loaf of sourdough.
Business of the Month is organized by Austin Hall through Groovin’ in the Grove. Winners are chosen through community voting, and participation is free. Local business owners interested in future voting can contact Austin to get involved.
Austin Hall
Groovin’ in the Grove
Your local resident ginger.
