From Boxer to Baker, Sugar Ray's Sweets Are a Knockout

ST. PETERSBURG - At 17, Ray "Sugar Ray" Milton was hired as the cleanup hand at a local Albertson's Bakery Department. That experience hooked Milton on the sweet world of baking desserts.

Now at 42, Milton has opened the doors to his very own establishment, known as Sugar Ray's Bakery, at 234 4th St. North. It seems to be the culmination of a lifelong dream.

Items include danishes, muffins and pastries, along with freshly brewed Kahwa coffee. His specialties are such delectables as Chocolate Ganache Cake and Milton's own creation, a Cinnamon Whiskey Cake. You can buy by the slice or take home the entire dessert.  He also sells cookies and pies.

As a vegetarian and health enthusiast himself, Milton uses a lot of all-natural products in his goods.

"If you're going to eat something, you should eat it pure," explains Milton. Eventually, he will be offering organic products as well as dairy-free delicacies.

Milton's dream is to one day have a spot on Beach Drive, where he can extend his love for health and baking. "When people come to St. Pete, I want them to think of Sugar Ray's Bakery," said Milton.

Milton is a St. Petersburg native. He grew up in south St. Pete around Jordan Park and notes his mom's cooking as inspiration for his own vision.

His first brush with the baking business was in 1986, when Albertson's was looking for a helping hand with upkeep in the bakery. Milton considered himself more of a "glorified bag boy." He got to work alongside professional bakers. A lifelong passion was born.

Each month it seemed that Milton was given more privileges, like frying donuts on the weekends; at 19, he was given the title of Assistant Manager.

His career had some twists and turns. He dabbled in music and worked as a boxing trainer, since he had been a boxer himself. "I told myself, whichever one works out first is the one I'll run with" said Milton. "Boxing took off at that time for me."

So, a boxing trainer he became, but baking was not far from his mind.

He couldn't give it up. "I also started to sell cakes and pies on the corner on the south side of St. Pete."

From there, he landed jobs at a number of bakeries. Each of his experiences was a learning platform for what would become his ultimate destiny.

Publix, Grant's Bakery and the Hilton are all vital pieces in Milton's bakery resume. Publix even tried to buy his infamous Carrot Cake recipe, but the family jewel was kept a secret.

Although his life and career have been a journey with twists and turns, Milton always returns to his first love: baking. When Milton put out the Open sign, he fulfilled a dream. The opening of Sugar Ray's is his homecoming.