CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A disabled Navy veteran has transformed a family bakery that began as a neighborhood shop to a supplier found in grocery stores across the country.

Mark Orahoske owns Park Avenue Muffin, which began in 1964. The family-run business was passed down to Orahoske four years ago when his father passed away from old age.

"It's still an honor to be a baker. And I had a lot of honor in the military," Orahoske said.

Orahoske comes from a long line of veterans. He has brought boxes of cakes to veterans when he goes to his VA appointments as his way of paying it forward to fellow service members.

The company made its name in the late 1990s when it shifted to mass cake production for local food retailers. Now the cakes are sold nationwide.

"My dad started the bakery when I was five years old in 1964 in Maple Heights on Clemont Avenue right up from the high school. Then we moved and built this building and we started Park Avenue Muffin," Orahoske said.

Orahoske has brought the discipline he learned in uniform and used it to streamline production lines. His standards drive the company's success.

"When I make a cake, I should be able to feed grandma with it. It better be good enough for grandma," Orahoske said.

The quality is what keeps longtime customers coming back.

Orahoske said he is preparing the future generation of Park Avenue Muffin bakers.

"I am doing all of this wonderful stuff in here for my grandkids," Orahoske said.