NASHUA – Eric Tedder channels James Earl Jones when he describes his strategy for Eric’s Main Street Bakery, his new establishment at 182 Main St.

“If you bake it, they will come,” Tedder said, playing off of Jones’ quote from the 1989 baseball classic “Field of Dreams.”

Tedder, a specialty cake maker and bakery owner for about a decade, recently returned to Nashua from Derry after operating several businesses under the names Blackberry Bakery and Specialty Cakes with ex-wife and friend Kim Meola.

Tedder’s new space, filling a void left by Lovin’ Cupcakes and Cannolies in August, transforms the turquoise bakery from a sit-down cafe to a drop-in sweetshop filled with fine Italian-style treats – lobster claws and cannolis, just to name a few – and custom-made cakes for birthdays, weddings and christenings, among other special events.

Lovin’ Cupcakes and Cannolies closed about five months ago, citing ongoing family and health issues, after operating at 182 Main St. for less than a year.

“It broke her heart,” Tedder said of Lovin’ owner Lori Robicheau.

But Tedder’s return to Nashua is like coming home, he said, after working downtown, managing Instaprint on Factory Street, for 15 years.

“I feel like I grew up here,” Tedder said, looking out his shop window across the street to Martha’s Exchange. “I remember when Martha’s was just a sweetshop. It’s a good landmark.”

An old friend of Philip Scontsas, owner of Scontsas Fine Jewelry and Home Decor, and Ron Bru, owner of Big Apple Deli, Tedder also is quickly making new friends with other merchants downtown, he said.

It was neighboring business owner Cheryl Plunkett, of Fresh of Nashua, who got Tedder interested in Lovin’s vacant building through his mother, Mary Jo Tedder, who owned a convenience store on Main Street for years, he said.

Tedder ended up calling 182 Main St.’s landlord and getting right in where Lovin’ left off. His store opened softly the day after Thanksgiving and will celebrate a grand opening and ribbon cutting next Friday.

“We kind of look at some things as a sign,” Tedder said. “It was just timing, and everything was right there.”

The interior of the store, a bright turquoise – Tedder’s favorite – is an additional indicator that the stars aligned for him to continue a successful bakery in Nashua.

After installing a few additional bakery cabinets, converting coffee service to self-serve, building a half-wall between the kitchen and the selling floor, and installing new appliances and bakery equipment out back, Tedder made the bakery his own.

“We put a lot of money into it,” Tedder said. “It’s more like a traditional bakery now.”

Ninety-five percent of the products are made in the shop, Tedder said. Bread is shipped daily from Boston, and Tedder also sells breads from Lucia’s Portuguese Bakery on Scripture Street.

“Everyone’s here to help each other,” Tedder said of downtown Nashua. “Instead of that ‘Don’t tread on me’ attitude, it’s, ‘How can we help each other?’?”

Mary Jo Tedder, along with Tedder’s niece, Meghan Tedder and family friend Amanda Christian, who just finished culinary school, are the hands behind the carrot cakes and eclairs, the cannolis and so-called “TV bars,” now tempting Main Street patrons every day from Tuesday to Sunday.

The menu includes seven different specialty cakes, including strawberry shortcake, a Bailey’s cream cake, and Black Forest Cake, a dark chocolate cake filled with cherries and decorated with whipped cream, chocolate cake crumbs and ganache.

Patrons also might come across Tedder’s 10-year-old daughter Ava, who loves helping out and promoting the shop, Tedder said.

“I’m typically here 3:30 to 4 a.m. in the morning,” Tedder said. “I was anticipating more of a morning crowd. I want people to get used to knowing there’s a place in town where you can stop and get a fresh muffin or danish on the way to work.”

Though Eric’s Main Street Bakery started off with a bang – the night of the Holiday Stroll – foot traffic has trickled down some in January, a reality many business owners face in the wake of the holiday season. But Tedder has nothing but confidence in what February will bring.

“January is always slow, but typically, once Valentine’s Day gets here, all the diet bets are off,” Tedder said. “I’ve been in the business long enough to know when it slows down and gets busy. And Easter is huge.”

For more information about Eric’s Main Street Bakery, visit its Facebook page or call 882-2253. The shop is open Tuesday-
Friday from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Maryalice Gill can be reached at 594-6490 or mgill@nashua
telegraph.com. Also, follow Gill
on Twitter (@Telegraph_MAG).