Southport Magazine

The Confectionary
4346 Long Beach Rd. SE
(910) 457-9310
www.theconfectionaryoakisland.com

The Confectionary will celebrate its seventh anniversary in March 2015. Owner Bobbie Blackmon began it with hard work and family values, and she continues that tradition today. Photo by Rebecca Jones

There is a treasure on Long Beach Road: a quirky little yellow and blue building with tin roof juts and angles, on the corner of Fish Factory Road at the light. Lace curtains and window boxes invite with delectable sayings such as, “Forget love… I’d rather fall in chocolate,” and “A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.”, The playful scroll of the “The Confectionary” sign appeals to the sweet tooth in us all. And stepping in doesn’t disappoint.

Glass display cases of cupcakes and desserts outline the work space. There are pies, cakes, muffins, creme horns, cookies, donuts and dessert bars. A blueberry crumb cake (with only a quarter left) is the culprit that greets you at the door, its fresh-baked aroma wafting with tenacity. A mixer is on the broad work table, with baking flour, milk and an industrial carton of fresh eggs. This is a working kitchen. All things are made in-house. A timer bell goes off, buzzing that another homemade delight is ready.

Farm tables and high-back chairs are cozily arranged. Pale-colored cinder block walls, exposed high beams, large windows and a hanging chandelier lend to the open space. Light green, pale yellow and soft blue accent the painted wood furniture.  Another sign,  “Life’s short—eat dessert first” sends a sweet message: to stay and indulge or take out and treat.

Blueberry crumb cake is an assault on the senses—from smelling the delicious dessert when you walk in to the last morsel you savor. Photo by Rebecca Jones

Proprietor Bobbie Blackmon has used her artistic talents to create a space that blends old world Parisian bake shoppe with cozy country-kitchen charm.

Bobbie is a native of Brunswick County. She was born in Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport and graduated from South Brunswick High School. She and her husband, Rhett Blackmon, have raised their two children, Paige and Hunter, on Oak Island. There are family photos throughout the shop. A bench fashioned from a scroll headboard, made by Rhett, provides seating for a rectangular farm table. Paige, a teacher,  with the help of one of her friends, works alongside her mom during the busy summer season. Hunter is an all-around “shop chore guy.” “If there is something that needs to be done, he’ll do it,” Bobbie says.

No stranger to hard work or family business, Bobbie  worked  20 years in her mother’s restaurant, Edna’s on Long Beach, a favorite in Oak Island history.

Creme horns rest on a doily awaiting the next guest of The Confectionary. Photo by Rebecca Jones

Along with the support of her family, Bobbie has the loyal patronage of her customers. In the morning, the regulars drink coffee over buns and sweets while “solving the world’s problems,” Bobbie jokes.

“I spend a lot of hours here, so I want it to feel like home,” she shares. “It’s very similar to family.”

Indeed, one of her regular customers boasts with pride and affection, pointing to the glass displays, and noting that “they were filled this morning,” and “she [Bobbie] will stay late baking into the night for the next morning.” He then goes back to his “spot” at the table, folding white boxes that are used to house the variety of desserts. This display of loyalty and small-town charm is as attractive as the frosting-topped peanut butter cupcakes.

The Confectionary can provide desserts by price or by count. Bobbie can specialize orders for seasonal, holiday, or any occasion. Dessert-bar catering, wedding cakes, and specialty cakes have become a big part of the business.

“The business has really evolved in that direction by word of mouth,” Bobbie touts, showing a recent picture of a “naked” wedding cake—a tiered cake without frosting on the outside, showcasing the icing between each layer inside, a new trend in event desserts.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies would be a great addition to a Thanksgiving spread. Photo by Rebecca Jones

There is an open room off to the side, a den almost, with a large table and comfortable chairs. “Wedding planners use this space to meet with clients; the space is also used for tastings as people customize their dessert venues or specialty cakes.” Bobbie honestly acknowledges, “with the downfall in the economy, the second bridge, and all the road construction—the specialty items have really helped.”

When asked if she thought she would one day be a baker in her own shop, Bobbie shakes her head and emphatically says, “No—I was a homemaker and mother.” But hard work and family values prove for a successful recipe. The Confectionary will celebrate seven years in March 2015.

The Confectionary is located at 4346 Long Beach Rd. SE, open Tuesday through Friday  7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more info, call (910) 457-9310.