Watch: Sherrill talks small-business issues at Deptford bakery
Gov. Mikie Sherrill visits Two Sweet Boutique, a Deptford bakery, and promotes her small business policies
A family bakery in Deptford has faced a backlash after hosting a visit by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
The New Jersey governor came to Two Sweet Boutique on Feb. 27 to draw attention to the contributions of the state’s small businesses and to promote her policies intended to help entrepreneurs.
But the bakery’s operators, members of the Centrone family, woke up Saturday morning to a wave of “negativity” from people unhappy with the Democrat’s visit.
“This message is in reference to the voicemails and messages and 1 star reviews we woke up to this morning,” a post at the bakery’s Facebook page said Saturday.
It offered no details about the criticisms. But the post said it was “disheartening to see negativity directed toward a small business built on love, long hours and community support.”
A headline over the post read: “We don’t do sides here … we only do sweets.”
The post drew more than 1,200 notifications of support and more than 200 comments, many of them praising members of the Centrone family and the bakery’s pastries. Several also called for civility, with one comment suggesting, “Ignore the haters.”
“For us, this had NOTHING to do with politics,” the bakery’s post said of Sherrill’s visit, which was covered by multiple media outlets.
“It was about representing the hardworking small business community and the real families behind these shops,” the post continued.
Two Sweet Boutique, founded in 2017, is run by husband and wife Rocco and Jeanne Centrone and their daughter Alex Centrone Coyle.
According to Jeanne Centrone, the Hurffville Road bakery was chosen for Sherrill’s visit after the governor’s office asked Deptford Mayor Paul Medany to recommend a representative small business.
During her visit, Sherrill drew attention to the family’s role in the community, noting their support for fundraisers and youth athletic programs.
“I find that involvement [by small businesses] everywhere I go,” said Sherrill, who was inaugurated as governor Jan. 20.
The bakery’s Facebook post said the operators were “truly honored” to discuss the needs of small businesses with the governor.
Standing before a pastry display case, Sherrill vowed to cut red tape and other obstacles for small businesses.
“We’ve asked for all of our departments to put together a permitting catalog, so we can go through the permits, make sure they make sense, (and) cut through the ones that are just making it harder for people,” she said.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.
