Cakette Bakeshop: A Sweet Addition to North Charleston
Good news for food lovers in North Charleston! The local food scene is about to get a little sweeter with the upcoming opening of Cakette Bakeshop. Bakery enthusiast Courtney Colangelo is gearing up to launch her dream bakery, and the excitement is palpable within the community.
A Sweet Dream Comes True
Colangelo has always had a flair for baking. After honing her skills in various bakeries, including the highly regarded Little Tart Bakeshop in Atlanta and working closely with renowned bakers like Cheryl Day, she’s ready to embark on her own adventure. While her passion for baking has been a life-long journey, the big opportunity came to her almost by chance during a leisurely stroll.
On one of her daily walks with her son, she stumbled across a coffee van being built by her neighbors, Bryson and Savanna Purcell. Curiosity led her to ask what they were up to, and to her delight, they shared their plans for a mobile coffee service. “I was like, ‘What is this going to be? Is this going to be a coffee truck?’” Colangelo recalled, excitement boiling inside her. The coffee van turned out to be Prophet Coffee, which opened earlier this year, and her journey in the local food scene began to unfold.
Location, Location, Location
Now, with a location secured at 4546 Durant Ave., where the Park Circle Co-op once stood, Colangelo is set to make Cakette Bakeshop come to life by early December. Her bakery will focus on quick-service, making it a go-to spot for people on the move. The interior will mainly cater to the baking kitchen, and there will be a convenient indoor to-go counter for orders. Besides that, outdoor seating will allow guests to relax and enjoy their treats if they wish.
Simple Yet Delicious Offerings
The menu will showcase a few daily pastries, with future plans to expand the offerings to include egg sandwiches and a selection of drip coffee and cold brew. Colangelo envisions Cakette as a neighborhood bakery where locals can swing by, grab their morning coffee and pastry, and head to the nearby park for a lovely day.
Listening to the Community
Colangelo is no stranger to understanding community needs. During her stint at Prophet Coffee, she adjusted her pop-up items based on customer feedback, adding more vegan and gluten-free options that proved immensely popular. “That’s what has given me the momentum to keep going,” she noted, acknowledging the warmth and support from the Park Circle community. It certainly doesn’t hurt that her pastries often sell out quickly!
The Leap of Faith
Despite her prior successes, venturing into her own bakery was still daunting for Colangelo. She admitted that the costs associated with launching a food establishment can be overwhelming. However, taking over the lease at her new location provides her an opportunity to grow sustainably and manageably.
“I was like, ‘OK, it’s not going to cost me a lot to get some equipment in here and bake and make something out of this,’” she expressed, determined to make her dream a reality. The encouraging community response and previous experiences with her pastries have been more motivation than ever.
Support Local!
As she prepares for the grand opening, Colangelo encourages everyone to continue supporting her through her weekly pop-ups. It’s a wonderful way for the community to sample her treats and provide feedback on what they’d love to see at Cakette.
In essence, Cakette Bakeshop is not just about pastries, but rather, it’s about building a sense of community. With Courtney Colangelo at the helm, North Charleston is set to enjoy delicious baked goods that the whole neighborhood can embrace. Keep your eyes peeled for Cakette’s opening in December; this is one local spot you won’t want to miss!
