Traditional Bakery With Twist Opens In Summit Trace

When you step inside the unassuming storefront in Summit Trace in Middletown, you might not pick up on what separates The Happy Mixer from other bakeries in the area.

Familiar bakery smells greet you, while a menu of options sits behind the worker at the counter. A glass display case houses hundreds of treats. What makes the The Happy Mixer different is the fact it is a gluten-free bakery dedicated to providing a traditional bakery experience, something people on gluten free and vegan diets don’t usually get to experience.

The Happy Mixer is owned by Timothy and Lisa Mourer. The location that opened in October at Summit Trace is the second full-service bakery and third overall location. Mourer was  bit by the baking bug when he was working for a popular local bakery as a cleaner. He eventually became a baking assistant. Years later, and he owned his own location of the regional bakery.

In 2009, Timothy Mourer found out that he could no longer eat gluten. Working in a traditional bakery had its challenges, but would not drive him from the career. In 2013, after years of testing and selling the location back to the local owners, Mourer opened the first The Happy Mixer in Chalfont.

Between working at the bakeries and baking at home, Mourer estimates that he spends upwards of 65 hours a week baking. He is always tweaking and changing up recipes, intent on iterating and making the recipes better.

“We’ve heard so much about Newtown supporting small businesses,” Mourer said.

The choice to move to Summit Trace was an easy one. About 40 minutes from the Chalfont location, people in the area know about The Happy Mixer and were welcoming it to the area before the store’s first holiday on site.

In the month or so that the bakery has been open, Mourer said, the community feedback has been great.

“We really are fortunate and we are grateful for all of the support,” Mourer said.

The first big test for the bakery, which Mourer likened to the NFC Championship game, was Thanksgiving. The next big tests are Christmas and the Super Bowl.

Mourer grew up in Bensalem and now lives in Montgomeryville with Lisa. A full-time teacher, Lisa works in the bakeries on the weekends. Situated barely 20 minutes from Bensalem is another reason the Mourers chose the location.

“It’s really a special feeling to get to come back to your roots,” Mourer said.

As for the future of The Happy Mixer, Mourer can’t say for sure what will happen in terms of expansion. If the opportunity presents itself and the time is right, Timothy and Lisa would love to grow.