Horace Maynard Middle School is celebrating the success of one of its own as former student Grace Nirmaier launches her new business, Baked by Grace. Grace has quickly made a name for herself, drawing in loads of customers since her grand opening.

“The opening is going great!” Grace shared. “We’ve had tons of customers coming in each day. We’ve been making hundreds of items every week and have sold around 100 pounds of chicken salad so far.”

Grace’s journey into business ownership came through an unexpected opportunity. “The previous owner reached out and asked if I would be interested in taking over the bakery,” she explained. “After praying about it, it became clear that this is where I need to be.”

While she is now focused on running a successful bakery, Grace still reflects fondly on her time at Horace Maynard Middle School. “My favorite memory of middle school was my 8th grade graduation,” she said. “It’s something I’ll never forget. It was the last day I would be in a public school classroom, the last day with my best friend and teachers who gave us their all. Hearing one of my teachers say, ‘I’m proud of you meant everything.”

Balancing school and business is no small task, but Grace has found a way to make it work. “It’s definitely not easy,” she admitted. “I’m homeschooled and do most of my schoolwork after the bakery closes. I also try to get some done during the day by watching lessons and answering questions when I can.”

Looking ahead, Grace has big plans. “It’s hard to say exactly where I’ll be in five years,” she said, “but I hope to be in a bigger bakery with more staff and maybe even open several more locations.”

Grace Nirmaier is proving that determination and passion can turn a dream into a thriving local business.