by Tiffany Sweeney
Penny Velk had been cooking and baking for as long as she could remember. When the opportunity to bake presented itself for her daughter’s bake sale in 2001, she was in. Standing at that table being urged by customers, Penny decided to take the dive – a dream with her mother of creating a bakery and a childhood chicken named Henrietta.
Initially, Penny created from her home. The health inspector reported that a commercial kitchen was required. She would load her car with all the ingredients and travel amongst different kitchens in the community to meet that standard. It was not long with these conditions that it was time for her own place.
In 2012, she moved into her own establishment, expanding with soup, chili and rolls. She outgrew her original shop and demand required a larger location. With the move came an additional expansion: salads, sandwiches, and more daily soups. Henny Penny’s continued to grow with another move at the beginning of May 2026. Over the last several months, Penny has renovated her new space to accommodate more new changes and even more improvements in late September: frozen yogurt, specialty cakes, a soup bar featuring more than ten options, salad bar, and a nacho bar. Daily soups have been determined by a vote from the community, including chicken pot pie, chicken wild rice, zuppa toscana, broccoli cheese, seafood bisque, and beef barley.
Penny is the creator behind her little treasure, cooking, baking and decorating all the delicacies. She has a small staff of five that serves the guests.
Unfortunately, her mother was never able to see the bakery dream come to fruition. The memory still lives, however, in the atmosphere that Penny provides with her staff and customers. Henny Penny’s is homey.
It is nostalgic. Guests walk through the doors and immediately feel like they have walked into grandma’s house for a good home- cooked meal surrounded by love. Mom would be proud.
Henny Penny’s new location is at 417 1st Street, Suite A in Havre. More information can be found on their website at hennypennycupcakesmt.com or their Facebook page, Henny Penny’s Cupcakes.