Sweety's: Where Community, Tea, and Passion Meet

Oct 15, 2025

Nestled in the historic Mill on Etowah in Canton, Georgia, Sweety's isn't just a tea room or cafe — it's a heartfelt venture built on passion and authenticity. Cheryl, the owner and visionary behind Sweety's, sat down to talk about what it takes to run a purpose-driven food business, why brunch might be next, and the power of loving people through food.

Let’s start with the obvious—what inspired Sweety's?

Cheryl: I knew that there was a need for a cute cafe and a tea room in Canton. And I thought, oh, I could do that. Yeah, I knew what I was doing, but I also had to teach myself. I learned, I studied, I researched, and I just started at the farmers market to see if my food would even be something that people would buy and be interested in. I ended up getting a lot of interest at the farmers market and we did very well just through that one season. From there, people kept asking "Where's your restaurant?" and "Where are you located?"

"What’s your food philosophy? How do you choose what goes on the menu?"

Cheryl: We work with what we’ve got. Our kitchen is tiny—two tables pushed together, basically—so storage and refrigeration are limited. Everything is made fresh in small batches, but it’s actually been a blessing because it keeps our quality high.

A lot of the recipes we use are from my mother-in-law, who taught me how to love people through food. She opened her heart and home to so many people, and I want people to leave Sweety’s feeling the way I always felt after seeing her.

"How has it been operating out of The Mill?"

Cheryl: I love it. I really do. The windows in my kitchen? That’s rare. The train going by? The hum of weekend events? It’s charming. And we’re seeing more people discover us, especially during big Mill events. Even if they’re just walking by and peeking in, they remember us and that makes a difference.

I love The Mill. I love the train, the windows, my neighbors — I’m very thankful this location has worked well. The Mill is really a hub for the weekend, an entertainment place. So, when the weekends are very busy and events are being set up, we have so many people stop and ask questions or just chatter in the hallways about Sweety’s. Hearing that is encouraging, it lets me know the more people see it, the more we get customers to come and enjoy our experience.

"So what advice would you give someone thinking about opening a tea shop — or any small business?"

Cheryl: Research and make sure you know why you want to do it. Don't just do it to make money, do it because you want to do it, and you have a passion for people. Know what your community wants and is looking for. Get your loans and financing in order, and talk to other small business owners that have done it before. Just really research, learn, study and know what you're doing. And of course — make sure your food is really, really good.

"Looking ahead, what's next for Sweety's?"

Cheryl: We’ve thought about expanding the menu with a breakfast section, since it did so well at the Farmers market. Things like easy grab-and-go sandwiches or some breakfast casserole slices. I’d also bring out a couple new desserts, like a special cheesecake or blueberry buckles. As for things that are for certain coming, we are partnering with Damsel Bookstore across the hall to provide an tea experiences based on popular book series. Many people have been asking about it, so they're gonna be great turnouts.

Sweety's Cafe and Tearoom is located inside The Mill on Etowah in Downtown Canton at 225 Reformation Pkwy Suite 104E, Canton, GA 30114. Find out more about what they offer here.

Author

Claire Blakey

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