By Leah Weissman

Pilot staff writer

Two days after Delaney's Bakery closed Jan. 19, Mary Jo Delaney began her new position as cake decorator at Ray's Food Place – and her customers have been thrilled.

"A lot of our regulars from the bakery stop in and say ‘Hi,'" Delaney said.

"I had heard around Christmas time that the Ray's cake decorator had quit. My husband and I thought of closing the bakery, so I agonized over the decision, and eventually went and got an application at Ray's."

As new cake decorator, Delaney said she can focus entirely on the artistic aspect of baking.

"It's really wonderful because I get to do the creative end of it and not have the stress of owning a business," she said. "I do miss the bakery, but this is working out great, too."

Noel Hanna, director of bakeries and delis for C&K Markets, said Ray's Food Place jumped at the chance to include Delaney on their team "to hold on to the local aspect and keep a little bit of the Delaney bakery here in the Brookings area."

Along with attracting new and old customers, Delaney said she also has future plans for Ray's bakery – including adding some more upscale food items.

"The customer service, the products ... we're going to try to hold onto those things that the bakery upheld," Delaney said.