Hofer's Bakery and Pastry Shop 

     Hofer's Bakery and Pastry Shop is located in downtown Helen, Georgia. Established in 1950 it is small, family business that is well known in the close-nit community. Steve Hill, the head baker at Hofer's, has been at there for 25 years. He arrives at 4:00 am every morning to begin his long day of baking, which includes making cookies, breads, donuts and countless other pastries daily as well as supervising his apprentice. Hill began baking when he was 15-years-old when he could not stay out of trouble and a member of his church offered to teach him the trade of baking to keep him busy. Hill said, "He just wanted to keep me out of trouble, so he put me to work, and I really started liking it." Within two years he was a full-time baker, and nearly 35 years later he still thinks it is one of the best decisions of his life and he is, "Honored to have the opportunity to pass on my knowledge," he said.