When approaching retirement most decide to slow down, but not Sherri Leon.
After working three decades as a pharmacist – a profession where one is constantly on the move – adding a small business to the mix was just her speed. For both careers, she also values the connections made through her work far more than any singular product.
“It’s connecting with people, and that’s what I love to do,” Leon said. ”Whether or not it’s filling a prescription or baking and handing someone one of our Noshes.”
Leon started her bakery business, Noshes by Sherri, seven years ago. From cookies to cakes, Noshes continues to widen its range of diverse products. Leon regularly promotes her growing business through farmers’ markets, including the Lansdale Farmers’ Market at Penndale Middle School.
For Leon, the business means so much more than pastries. Despite her friends and family’s bugging suggestions, she never thought to pursue a business in it. That all changed one day when she saw an influx of notifications on her Facebook page requesting Jewish Apple Cakes.
Knowing how well she could bake that dessert, Leon decided to officially open up for business. Many years and pastries later, her cultural products have also reached across the country and overseas.
“We started realizing we had a niche for authentic ethnic product and we just kept on expanding, but we started with the Jewish Apple Cake,” Leon explained.
Through Noshes by Sherri, Leon has connected with countless people from all walks of life. Some reminisce about the cultural nostalgia of their favorite family foods, some are enthralled with the idea of starting something new, and some simply stroll by and decide to give Noshes a shot.
Regardless of the reason, all it takes is a taste of Leon’s baking, and customers are hooked. In addition to the Jewish Apple Cake, Leon’s business is known for its Mandel Bread cookies, Rugala, and even gourmet pop tarts.
“When it comes to food, you know, there’s always a food connection,” Leon said.
No matter the business journey, Leon is passionate about everything she does. Starting out as a pharmacist, she pursued the profession for over 30 years and counting.
Her first career still continues to excite her to this day. However, with her bakery, she’s free to explore the creativity of formulating new recipes and creating new products to perfection.
“My creative side is my baking side and my, you know, science side is my pharmacy side,” Leon said. “So it’s quite an interesting combination, but it makes sense.”
For more on Noshes by Sherri visit noshesbysherri.com or @noshesbysherri on Instagram. You could also stop by to pick up these baked goods in person on select weekends at the Lansdale Farmer’s Market.