‘BAKING IS IN THE BLOOD’ AT CAKE SHOP MEJOOLIES
New business named after owner’s mum
NORTH Staffordshire’s newest cake shop has opened as a poignant tribute to the owner’s mum.
Mejoolies in Newcastle will sell a range of cakes, brownies, waffles, ice cream and milkshakes – many of which will be made using a mixer belonging to June Parkes, who died of covid in October 2020.
The team behind Mejoolies – June’s daughter Kerry Farr and Lindsay Thomson, both of Silverdale – ran The Chocolate Boutique in Alsager for eight years before the pandemic forced them to close their shop.
They continued to run a successful chocolate delivery business during lockdowns – with more than 16,000 followers on Instagram – and have now opened their new venture opposite Newcastle College in Knutton Lane.
The name Mejoolies is based on Kerry’s nickname for her mum, as well as other meaningful references for Kerry and Lindsay. The new shop will be open from 11am to 5pm on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays initially, to allow the pair to continue running their chocolate-making business alongside.
They moved in to the new shop in August 2020 and have spent almost two years converting what was the home of an IT business into their catering venture, adding three large kitchens and converting the reception area into a takeaway dessert counter.
They hope to eventually offer chocolate-making classes, parties and events as they did in their previous shop, and will also offer local delivery.
Kerry, who met Lindsay 20 years ago when they were both working at Keele University, said that everything about the new venture is ‘perfect’. The 49-year-old said: “As soon as we got this building we knew it was right. It is in the perfect location with its own car park and garden area. We can’t wait to get started, although it is scary as well as exciting.
“We knew we needed a new name and kept trying out different ones, but nothing felt right until we came up with Mejoolies. My mum was a huge part of our business and we wanted to pay tribute to her, and to all of us.
“It’s quite emotional naming it after her. We will be using her mixer and have photographs of her up as well.”
They are also going to use recipes from Lindsay’s family, who have been baking for four generations. Her grandmother had her own home bakery business in Scotland and Lindsay will bake for Mejoolies, while Kerry is the chocolate expert.
Kerry, who unfortunately doesn’t get to try out all their products as she has diabetes, said: “This is a massive family thing for us and baking is in the blood. It just works, and we feel like we are doing what we are meant to be doing. We love making things and we love seeing people enjoying what we have made.”