Jhen’s Sweet Corner: From hobby to business

“Live, love, cakes.”

That might as well be the motto of entrepreneurial couple Jerome and Jennifer Ortiz when they opened Jhen’s Sweet Corner in April this year.

Jennifer said she and her husband, Jerome, really had no plans to put up a business and that Jhen’s Sweet Corner was borne out of her hobby and passion project.

“I started out it as a hobby when I began making my kids’ birthday cakes. Then they noticed my work and it took off from there,” she said. Jerome works full time in the information technology department of the Northern Marianas College while Jennifer fancies herself simply as a cake artist.

The Ortizes have five children—Kyle, 20; Jared, 12; J.T., 9; Kian, 6; and Kaden, 1—so you could imagine their savings on birthday cakes even before they put up Jhen’s Sweet Corner.

You can’t miss Jhen’s Sweet Corner when you’re driving by Chalan Monsignor Road in Lower Dandan as the shop is bright pink and is in front of New Century Apartment and across the Joeten commercial building.

Jennifer said Jhen’s Sweet Corner is not your garden variety bakeshop as there’s a lot of thought and creativity involved in everything they make.

“We sell custom cakes, cupcakes, French macarons, and other desserts. Our cakes and desserts have been specially made out of our love and passion for baking with a mix of artistry. The right sweetness and awesome designs that we bring in all our products make us unique from the others,” said Jennifer.

She said like all businesses, Jhen’s Sweet Corner had its birth pains when it started, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, Jennifer said operations have recently turned the corner. “Businesses [are] slowly going back again to normal and we want to take that opportunity. Staying afloat during COVID-19 pandemic requires new approaches. We found ways to survive during this pandemic through social media, and we have quickly adapted our business operation since we started our business online,” Jennifer added.

So far, Jhen’s Sweet Corner’s bestsellers are its custom cakes, which come in all flavors, shapes, and sizes and range from the simple to ornate, depending on the wishes of their customers.

“We would like to thank all our customers who continuously patronize our cakes and believe in our craft. We promise to continue making more delicious and beautiful custom cakes!” said Jennifer.

Jhen’s Sweet Corner is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 1pm-8pm, and Sunday, 1pm-7pm. It is closed on Monday. For more information or for orders, call 286-2733 or message them through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Jhenssweetcorner.