Home sweet home: ET’s Sweets brings home-baked goods to the pop-up shop

ET’s Sweets has built something of a cult following in the Lincoln area. Owner and founder Erin Odem fills a need for local residents whose diets require gluten-free and dairy-free foods. From kolaches to king cakes, she does it all — and shortly after we usher in the new year, she’ll be selling her treats out of the pop-up shop in Union Bank Place.

A Lincoln native, Erin was just the third pastry student to graduate from the Southeast Community College culinary program. She has now accumulated 14 years of baking and catering experience, operating ET’s Sweets for nearly six of those years. You may notice the business’s logo features a ghost — that’s because it was started in 2020, when the pandemic turned once-bustling shopping centers into ghost towns seemingly overnight. Erin decided to make the best out of a bad situation by selling her own home-baked goods via porch drop-offs, offering customers a safe, contactless, and convenient experience (not to mention yummy!).

Now, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 7 p.m., hungry customers flock to the shed at Erin’s residence near 70th and Leighton. Yes, you read that right — one of the places you can pick up Erin’s products is right in her driveway, where a shed houses a variety of goods to be enjoyed. Recent items have included pie bars, pie slices, cookies, dinner rolls, cherry mash, and so much more. The shed has become a huge hit — as many as 15 people at a time have lined up in advance, eagerly waiting for the clock to strike 2 so they can receive their fresh-baked treats.

Many of Erin’s loyal customers are affected by various food allergies. Since her father was diagnosed with celiac disease, it has been Erin’s mission to specialize in gluten-free and dairy-free baked goods. She’s committed to always providing allergy-free options wherever her goods are sold, and her time at the pop-up shop will be no exception. “The worst feeling is getting food with other people and having to be like, ‘Oh… maybe I can have a piece of fruit,’” Erin laughs.

Erin’s vision for the pop-up shop is to make the space feel like home. She wants to provide as many opportunities as possible for people to visit her, so she plans to be open Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with hours for the shed continuing as usual. Custom orders will be taken each Monday to be picked up at the end of the week, and other goods will be available as supplies last to ensure quality — so make sure to get in early for the best selection!

Erin’s time in the pop-up shop will begin on Monday, January 5, and conclude on Thursday, April 30. Key dates to look out for during her stay include Saturday, February 7, where Erin will join other local vendors in selling their goods at Union Bank Place during the Cupid’s Arrow makers market. Then, on February 17, you can celebrate Mardi Gras with a king cake (ET’s Sweets is one of the very few places in town that offers them!). Lastly, Erin will not be selling her goods from March 18 through 29, as she will be out of the country on vacation — but she plans to bring some new treat ideas back with her, so keep an eye out for her return! To stay up-to-date with current products and availability, follow ET's Sweets on Facebook.

The pop-up shop at Union Bank Place in downtown Lincoln gives business owners the opportunity to test out a brick-and-mortar location with built-in foot traffic. Offered to UBT business accountholders, the space is rent-free to the business owner for a four-month term. ET’s Sweets is the eighth occupant. Previous businesses have been Susa’s Sweets and Balloons, Studio Trouvaille, Moose’s Mad Fresh, Truth Papers, My Big Fat Greek Bakery, Rising Rolls Bakery, and KT Designs.