When Eatonton Mayor John Reid initially suggested she set up shop in Eatonton, baker Robin Williams admits to feeling somewhat skeptical.
“We had come to the Magnolia Market last year and did real well and the mayor came by and said we should come to Eatonton, but right away I was thinking, ‘Oh no, that’s too far,’” said Williams, who lives in Covington with her husband Emmanuel and three school-aged sons.
It wasn’t the first time she’d heard the idea, though, as Williams recalled several Eatonton visitors to her homemade baked goods booth over four years at the Covington Farmer’s Market had suggested the same to her.
“I finally stopped tussling with God and was like, ‘Okay, if that’s where You want us to be, then make the way.’ And He’s done that at every step, and we are just so appreciative, and we look forward to building relationships with everybody and being a part of your family,” Williams said last Wednesday during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at La Reine Belle, hosted by the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce.
Williams officially opened La Reine Belle, which loosely translates from French to “The Beautiful Queen,” at 108 N. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Eatonton.
She said the outpouring of support and encouragement that she and her husband Emmanuel, along with their three school-aged boys, have encountered in Eatonton has already convinced her that the 40-mile drive from Covington is worth it.
Williams also credited the efforts of Eatonton Main Street Manager Lauren Singleton for helping her find and secure the storefront that La Reine Belle occupies.
“At first, there wasn’t anything available in our price range, but once something became available, Lauren actually contacted me again,” Williams recalled. “That was something different than what we were experiencing before. We were always chasing people to find out about their building, versus awesome communication from Lauren. She was being proactive and said, ‘This building is coming up at this time, and if you’re interested, here is the people’s information.’ So, we just went from there, and now, here we are.”
For the time being, Williams and La Reine Belle continue to operate under a “cottage” license, which limits some of the services they can offer; however, the store features a brightly lit seating area and a wide variety of specialty baked goods to go, including cakes, cookies, and scones.
Williams said that custom orders are also accepted.
“We’re here for the long haul, as long as demand continues, but we understand that we may have to branch out again to something bigger, too,” Williams said. “So, if we ever need a commercial kitchen and all that, then we’ll look to expand. But right now, I think we have the perfect spot.”