SWEET CELEBRATION

Mary Greub may never have chosen to be the owner of Gerhard’s Elegant Desserts, but she is abundantly grateful that such a life chose her.

Mary, with her larger-than-life personality, can-do attitude, and knack for making everyone feel like she’s your friend is the woman behind the pastry shop that carriers her former husband’s name. Thirty years ago, she and Gerhard came to Lake Forest when they heard a pastry shop near Market Square was for sale.

“Gerhard was the executive pastry chef with the Four Seasons Chicago at the time,” Mary says. “He was helping them launch properties all over the world, but he was ready to move on. The couple selling the pastry shop had owned it for 20 years. And it had been a pastry shop for 40 years before them. When we first got here, we had big plans to blow out the walls and change things up, but we realized that this town likes things the way they are.”

For three decades (Gerhard’s Elegant Desserts celebrated its 30th anniversary in August), Gerhard’s has provided its customers with elegant desserts and pastry items made from scratch in the European style of fresh, natural, quality ingredients.

“Gerhard is and always has been a purist,” Mary says of the French Swiss flavor of her shop. “We don’t really change things. Gerhard wants things to remain how they originally were. We aren’t trendy. We stay true to how pastry is. The menu may have evolved over the years, but our commitment to quality ingredients and real flavors has stayed the same. That is wonderful for the business.”

Chef Sandy Sofere has been the pastry chef at Gerhard’s for the last 25 years, as the shop’s namesake now lives on the other side of the globe. Gerhard, however, does make regular visits back to the shop over the summer months and at Christmas. While their dark chocolate mousse cake remains an all-time best seller, Gerhard’s customers look forward to December when the custom gingerbread houses, bûche de noël, and signature chestnut dessert return for the holidays.

“There was a time when Gerhard was home and he saw some spinach pie and baklava in the cases and asked me what that was about,” Mary says with a laugh. “I had to remind him that I am Greek and every now and then some of my culture will be represented, too.”

Catherine Greub, Gerhard and Mary’s daughter, has never known a life without the shop. Now a consultant living in Nashville, she has many special memories of growing up at Gerhard’s.

“I’ve had bosses ask me before how I know so much about business,” she says. “It all makes sense when I tell them my parents had a small business. Even before I could work on the floor, I was helping—or playing—in the back. I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything. I’ve known some of the employees my whole life.”

Mary manages a mighty team of 14 at Gerhard’s. She prides herself on having so many long-time employees.

“I know that people think I can be tough,” she says. “But our customers have come to expect a certain high standard from us, and I never want to disappoint them. One of my former employees who worked here when she was in high school now comes by the shop with her own little ones. She tells me that some day she wants them to work here and learn from the best. That means a lot to me.”

But it’s Mary’s customers who truly have her heart. She greets nearly every person who walks through her shop door by name.

“I’m so grateful to own a business in this town,” she says. “It’s such a beautiful town with such beautiful people—such kind and loving people. How did I end up being here? How did this happen to me? People ask me all of the time if I think about retiring. But this is my social life. I’m so happy to come to the shop. Gratitude doesn’t begin to express how truly blessed I feel.”

Gerhard’s Elegant Desserts is located at 720 N. Western Avenue, 1820 in Lake Forest. For more information, call 847-234-0023 or visit gerhardsdesserts.com.