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93-year-old is bored during retirement, so he opens his very own boozy bakery
Retirement was nothing for Ray, so the 93-year-old WWII veteran decided to start his own bakery with alcohol-infused cupcakes.
Jonathan Maes
11.14.19

Most people look forward to the day they retire so that they can enjoy life to the fullest without worrying about work, but retirement most definitely isn’t for everyone. Ray Boutwell, a World War II veteran, is one of them.

Rosana Mawson
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Rosana Mawson

Instead of retiring, the 93-year-old man decided to become an entrepreneur and start his own ‘boozy’ bakery.

The man found a place in Vorhees, New Jersey and decided to start his own bakery just a couple of months ago – and it’s already quite the popular spot!

Ray wanted to give his bakery some kind of a twist that would make him stand out from the tough competition, so he decided to focus his attention on something adults tend to like: alcohol. Hence the name ‘Ray’s Boozy Cupcakes’.

Rosana Mawson
Source:
Rosana Mawson

The unique cupcake shop currently has nine different flavors for sale, and all of them are inspired by cocktails.

They’re made with actual alcohol and you can definitely taste the distinct flavors. If you’re in the mood for a cocktail-flavored pastry, you can choose from Strawberry Banana Daiquiri, Tequila Sunrise, Chocolate Fireball, Kahlua Cappuccino, Apple Brandy, Blueberry Vodka, Pina Colada, Peach Schnapps and Sex on the Beach.

ABC Localish
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ABC Localish

Luckily, there are also some alternatives for people who avoid alcohol and children – Ray expanded his assortment with non-boozy cupcakes as well, which are also cheaper. Funnily enough, the veteran actually doesn’t drink himself, but the cupcakes are a different story as he’d never turn one down.

After the loss of his wife and his ‘boring’ retirement, Ray felt a bit lost.

When he suddenly spotted an article about another boozy cupcake shop, he figured that he could do the same thing somewhere is. “Why not?” the 93-year told TODAY.

“Well, I thought it was a great idea,” he recalls.

However, his daughter wasn’t exactly a big fan of the idea at first and even thought that he was suffering from dementia.

“I thought that he had maybe lost his mind, I wasn’t really sure. But he was very serious and very determined to go ahead with this and had all these ideas just coming out,” daughter Rosena said.

“Did you think this was dementia?” CBS News asked. “I was beginning to wonder,” Rosena replied. “Well, I could tell that she was deeply concerned,” Ray then added. “And I understood that.”

Rosana Mawson
Source:
Rosana Mawson

The man has always been passionate about cooking and even served as a mess cook in the Navy.

He vividly recalls how he watched his mother cook meals. Ray comes from a big family of no less than ten siblings, so he’s pretty used to being around a lot of food. His time in the Navy also greatly prepared him for this new business venture.

“It was a great learning experience. You know you were supporting the people that were training to go into combat,” he told.

ABC Localish
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ABC Localish

He has more than fifty years of experience working in bakeries, starting at 22 years old. He returned to his passion after the war and even took numerous classes. Ray even had his own bakery decades ago but had to close it in 1990.

After his wife passed, he needed something to keep him busy and passionate. He started painting as he’s always been an avid art lover, but he still felt like he wasn’t mentally and physically challenged enough. Ray’s Boozy Cupcakes provides him with exactly that challenge.

Business is going very well, and Ray even wants to expand his business portfolio.

ABC Localish
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ABC Localish

“We ran out of everything,” Ray said about the cupcakes.

The passionate baker has already signed a lease for the building next door, as he wants to expand his business and start selling alcohol-infused ice cream as well. The ambitious man even wants to make ice cream on the same level as Ben and Jerry’s.

Daughter Rosana couldn’t be more proud of her dad.

“The legacy my father’s leaving behind is one of hard work,” she said. “You’re never too old to live your dream. You can do anything at any age.”

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