Dr. Lee Dreams Big and Brings Cincy Its Sugar Fix
Located in the heart of Over-the-Rhine's business district, Sugar is a boutique bakery specializing in gourmet desserts. Delicious, fresh, flavorful, and aesthetically pleasing to the eye, each product is hand-crafted in small batches using high-quality ingredients.
Whether you are a dessert connoisseur or simply have a bit of a sweet tooth, Sugar’s selections are sure to provide you with plenty of options for both gifts and personal enjoyment. From their over-the-top cookies to their decadent and aptly named “Sugar Fix” dessert jars, gorgeously decorated party cakes, and drool-worthy cupcakes, Sugar desserts are sure to impress even those with the most discriminating of tastes.
Sugar was founded four years ago by Dr. Andrea Lee, who started the bakery with a dream and a passion for sweets. A single mother of two boys, Dr. Lee’s former background is that of an educator and advocate for children in high-poverty communities. She served children and their families for nearly ten years as a consultant and researcher before taking a first-year principal position at a local charter school. In her own words, “I soon discovered that the owners of the school were more interested in lining their pockets with student tax dollars than they were about creating and maintaining a quality educational experience for our students. When faced with this ethical and moral dilemma, I chose to part ways.”
Disenchanted with the school system, Dr. Lee found comfort and refuge in her faith and in baking.
“I didn’t have a backup plan, but I trusted that God was faithful enough to sustain us and He did. My hobby, baking and decorating cakes, became my therapy and my ‘meantime’ experience which birthed the brand now known as Sugar.”
Dr. Lee’s personal life has grown and developed along with her business. Now married to Rev. Darnell D. Lee, Jr. she has three sons, Drew, Dre, & Darnell III. Sugar’s first brick and mortar location opened September of last year and has been going strong ever since.
However, like many local businesses Sugar has been affected by the current pandemic. While their Over-the-Rhine location is currently closed, they’ve adapted in order to continue to provide sweet treats to the Cincinnati area. Sugar currently offers direct local delivery services called “Dessert Delivered” on a weekend-only basis, catering to most of Greater Cincinnati and the surrounding areas, including West Chester, Mason, and Northern Kentucky. Orders for delivery can be made on Sugar’s website.
Sugar also offers a monthly subscription box for a more curated experience. The “Sugar Junkie” box gives subscribers the unique opportunity to sample new flavors and items before the products are available for widespread consumption and enjoy box-exclusive items containing premium, imported ingredients.
Even in these uncertain times, Dr. Andrea Lee and her business continue to thrive. The entrepreneur hopes to provide not just sweets but inspiration to her community.
“Life as an entrepreneur has not gone without exceptional struggles. It has yielded countless sleepless nights and sacrifices, but it’s been worth it. I'm simply amazed at how far we have come, and, for Sugar, this is only the beginning. We hope that you will join us, follow our journey, and be inspired to dream bigger!”
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