Sweet Lala’s Bakery
Sweet Lala’s Bakery is opening a retail bakery and cafe in Regalia Center on March 22. The bakery and cafe will be in the former Lori James spot at 6150 Poplar Ave., Suite 118.
Lauren Young, Sweet Lala’s founder and owner, decided it was time to add a retail component to her 17-year-old business.
“I started Sweet Lala’s out of my home kitchen back in 2001,” Young said. In 2014, she formed a partnership with JIFF, a juvenile intervention facility in Downtown Memphis, to expand the business while helping the community. For the past four years Sweet Lala’s has baked its cookies out of JIFF’S kitchen, employing JIFF students.
Her new bakery will continue her mission of making a difference. Embracing the theme “make life sweeter,” she will highlight philanthropic food ventures like Thistle & Bee and Shepherd’s Haven pottery. She will also carry locally and regionally-made sweet treats by various food artisans.
The retail space at Regalia Center is close to 3,000 square feet and includes an upstairs special event space. The bakery, retail space and cafe will be on the ground floor. The bakery will offer her signature cookies, plus other baked goods, soft serve ice cream, a coffee bar and light breakfast items.
Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co.
The Clarksdale, Mississippi-based Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. will open its first retail gelato shop in April. The gelato shop will be at The South Main Market at 409 S. Main St. in Downtown Memphis.
“We will be in the front left corner by the window,” said Hugh Balthrop, the founder and creative director. “We just ordered a gelato case from Italy, so once that arrives we will be able to open.”
Balthrop said the gelato case will hold about 12 flavors, which will rotate seasonally.
Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. opened in 2011, selling artisan gelato in retail pints and wholesale to restaurants across Memphis and the Mississippi Delta. Top-selling flavors include Espresso Brownie, Blood Orange, Whiskey & Pecans and Miss Mary’s Poundcake. You don’t have to wait until April for a taste. Pints can be purchased at Whole Foods Market, High Point Grocery and The Curb Market.
Phillip Ashley Chocolates
Phillip Ashley Chocolates is set to reopen in its new location on April 13.
In November, Phillip Ashley Rix, founder and head chocolatier, announced the closure of his original store-front. “We have loved being in Cooper-young, but we need more space for production.”
The Memphis-based chocolatier will be moving into a nearly 2,000-squarefoot location at 1200 Madison Ave.
Phillip Ashley is known for its luxury chocolates that are works of art filled with imaginative fillings. Some of the flavors in his “Taste of Memphis” collection include “The Beale Street VIP,” a sweet tea caramel vodka lemonade confection, and “The King,” a peanut butterbanana caramel with hickory smoked salt.
Until opening day, chocolates can be ordered online at phillipashley chocolates.com.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer. chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.