–by Jennifer Ruple
PUBLICATION DATE: Jan 18, 2021
Sylvania Farmers Market vendors, Tom and Andrea Geer of Geer Edibles, saw an opportunity to grow their business when they heard that the former Next Sweet Thing Bakery in Mayberry Square was for sale. The couple made a quick decision and opened Geer Edibles Family Bakery and More, 8252 Mayberry Square N., on Dec. 5, 2020. “All of the pieces fell into place at the right time. It all happened within a month,” said Andrea Geer.
The couple was operating their business under a cottage food law, creating a trio of peanut brittles, baked goods and seasoning mixes in their Sylvania home and selling them at the Sylvania Farmers Market and at markets in Fremont and Clyde, Ohio. “Tom has been making peanut brittle for 10 years. He makes three varieties including honey, chocolate, and coconut with a dark chocolate backing. Over the holidays he would give it to our family and friends,” explained Geer. “Everyone was telling us that we should sell it, so we started participating in the markets.”
Expanding on that base, the Geers now make several varieties of donuts; cake pops; cookies; and chocolate covered pretzels, marshmallows and sandwich cookies. “Tom makes his 4-inch colossal cookies. Our best seller is what we call the PBCCB, which stands for peanut butter chocolate chip butterscotch,” Geer offered.
Andrea and Tom Geer are the owners and bakers at Geer Edibles Family Bakery and More, which is now open in Mayberry Square. 
An assortment of Geer specialty foods and gifts are available to create Valentine gift baskets.
“My husband was a mechanic for over 20 years and was a looking for a change,” remarked Geer. Today, Tom makes most of the donuts and bakes the cookies and cakes, while Andrea decorates them. “It’s a team effort. He’s mostly in the back of the shop, and I’m out in front,” she said. The Geers live not far from their business and have nine children ranging from age 33 to nine-year-old twins. “We hope to get some of them involved with the bakery too,” said Geer.
Geer Edibles Family Bakery and More also offers homemade seasoning mixes including taco, chipotle and chili. “That’s where the more comes in,” said Geer. “It all started one night when we were home and ran out of seasoning, so Tom made up a batch. He’s been making it for us ever since. There are no fillers in our mixes like corn starch or flours and each bag contains enough seasoning for three pounds of meat,” she added.
Even more to come are paint your own cookie kits, retail items such as stuffed animals and Valentine’s Day gift baskets. Bakery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 7 am to 2 pm and Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm. Custom orders can be placed through the website, geer-edibles.com.