Meet the Woman Behind Muddy’s Bake Shop’s Next Chapter
Meet Stacy Hinkle, the co-owner of one of Memphis's favorite coffeehouses and the new steward of one of its most beloved bakeries ... Muddy's Bake Shop! Image: Camille Weaver
Coffee or cake? Stacy Hinkle doesn’t believe you should have to choose. The co-owner of Belltower Coffee and new owner of Muddy’s Bake Shop is bringing her passion for baking and genuine hospitality to two of Memphis’s favorite institutions. We caught up with her to hear her thoughts on why community always comes first, the joy of preserving a local legacy, and the menu items she can’t resist.
You are now helping lead two of Memphis’s most beloved local institutions. What does it mean to you to help create these spaces?
I have always believed that food (especially coffee and chocolate) helps bring people together. I have also always loved to bake, and combining this passion with genuine hospitality enriches people in many ways. Belltower Coffee and Muddy’s Bake Shop let me bring my passions together in a way that blesses our city and the communities in which these businesses exist. I am so thankful for this opportunity.
Belltower is known for combining coffee, pottery, and gathering spaces. How do you think creativity and hospitality feed each other?
When people have a space to do what they love, it brings a lot of joy, and that joy translates to a feeling of hospitality. Genuine hospitality is so important! I feel like it is often missing in our world today. Making people feel seen and welcome matters. Belltower does this very well. People feel like they belong when they walk through the door.
What convinced you that Muddy’s wasn’t just a good business opportunity, but the right fit for you personally?
I love all that Muddy’s stands for and does for our city. Baking is one of my greatest passions, and this city is another. I live in Binghampton, which is right in the middle of the city, and Muddy’s is four blocks from my home. So when the opportunity came to be part of something I love in the neighborhood I love, I knew it was the right opportunity for me personally.
I watched Muddy’s become a part of the renaissance of Broad Avenue 13 years ago. My kids and I stop often to pick up a quick treat. Muddy’s loves the community and gives back in many ways. I am honored to be a part of that tradition! Plus, who doesn’t love a place filled with happy greetings and sweet treats?
Muddy’s founder, Kat Gordon, built something people genuinely love. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from watching how she cared for customers and staff during the transition?
Kat is amazing, and I am honored to call her my friend. I learn from her every day. The customers who stop by to meet me always have something nice to say about Kat and what Muddy’s means to them. She truly gets the importance of detail and genuine hospitality.
You’re now balancing coffee, baking, hospitality, and creativity. What’s a typical day like for you?
I’m not sure what a typical day looks like yet; I am still learning! I work with the coffee roastery on Monday. Tuesday through Saturday, I am at Muddy’s. On Tuesday and Friday, I make deliveries to both Belltower Coffee locations.
I get to interact with a lot of people during the week, and I genuinely love that. Some of my favorite people are the Muddy’s staff. All of the staff stayed through the transition, and I love watching them use their talents. They’re the real deal!
What’s your favorite coffee concoction at Belltower these days?
Honestly, I am a coffee purist. I like the drip coffee without all the bells and whistles. The Rwandan is my favorite coffee right now, and I think Nick, our coffee roaster, is super talented. I have not tried a coffee that Nick has roasted that I don’t like.
And what’s your go-to fave at Muddy’s?
Hands down, the Oatmeal Cream Pie. I never even liked them before I tried the one at Muddy’s, but my goodness, this is a dangerous menu item!
What’s one thing about running a small business that most customers never see, but you’d love for them to understand?
It really never stops! I’m lucky, though. I am not by myself. Belltower/Muddy’s has an awesome team of people who do so many things that the public doesn’t see. Andrea, Muddy’s General Manager, is so important in the day-to-day flow and function. Christopher Galbreath and Micah Dempsey have my back in so many things. I am truly blessed. I also have a pretty strong team at home. My kids and my husband, Jim, cheer me on every day!
Is there a recent moment that reminded you exactly why you chose this work?
Every day at Muddy’s — the smells that come from the kitchen and the smiling faces on the kiddos as they look through the bakery window. I especially loved it when one of the kids wrote on the window that we are really good “cookers!”
When you aren’t surrounded by coffee beans and cupcakes, what does a perfect Memphis day look like for you?
Coffee beans and cupcakes sure sound perfect to me, but a perfect day in the city would probably be spent with my husband at another one of our city’s amazing restaurants downtown, enjoying someone else’s talents. We love food, and this city is filled with so many talented chefs!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?
Kat Gordon told me, “Don’t give away the part of the business that brings you the most joy.” (So, I need to get back into the kitchen and create a new recipe!)
LIGHTNING ROUND!
What is always in your pantry? Chocolate!
Favorite “hidden gem” in Memphis? I don’t think these are hidden, but I love the Hive and Amelia Gene’s.
What’s a great book you’ve read recently? I don’t have much time to read these days, but I am re-reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. I love this book. It is such a reminder to count every blessing, even the very small things like the smell of coffee brewing in the morning. It helps to create a spirit of gratitude!
This article contains product affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.
**********
For more inspiring stories, visit our FACES archives!
Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.