By EMILEE PHILLIPS
Staff Writer
Seven Lakes is going to be rolling in the dough, literally, when Delucia’s Bake Shop opens its doors. Delucia’s might sound familiar — it has most recently operated out of HomeGrown Restaurant in Vass, where owner Dena Delucia would bake after hours. Her own brick-and-mortar location will have an old school New York bakery vibe with lots of Italian and Jewish products.
“My baked goods are made with a hint of European flavor, New York attitude and Southern hospitality,” says Dena. Dena is originally from Long Island but spent her later teens in Florida before joining the Army, from which she recently retired after 23 years. She has been a baker since college and has been searching for a location since deciding to make her hobby into a business two years ago.
Located in the former home of Casa Santa Ana, the space will have several large display cases and a couple of tables, but it will primarily be a grab-n-go spot. You’ll find cakes, challah bread, bagels, rugelach, Maritozzi (an Italian doughnut with various fillings) and more. Dena’s favorite menu item is a basic cannoli that she’ll call “The Original Scrooge” after a nickname for her late father, because it’s what he loved to eat.
“Customer service is very important to me,” says Dena, “I also want to have something for everyone, fair prices.” She has plans to donate leftovers to food pantries and to set up a scholarship fund for SCC’s Culinary and Pastry Arts Program. Delucia’s Bake Shop could be open by mid-April but renovations may need a bit more time in the oven, so stay tuned to Facebook for announcements.
