SEASONS TREATS
The Sugar Fairy set to open first brick and mortar space
MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. » A new local bakery is set to open this holiday season, offering sweet treats and more in the Mechanicville community.
The Sugar Fairy Bakes LLC, originally founded in 2019 by Stacie Blair, anticipates opening its first brick and mortar space this December at 205 Park Ave. in Mechanicville.
Blair, also known as The Sugar Fairy, has spent the past two years building her business, and recently decided to take the next big step by opening her own bakery.
She aims to open to the public on Dec. 15, just in time for the holidays, followed by a grand opening celebration in the spring.
Once open, customers will be able to visit The Sugar Fairy Bakes to find their favorite cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pies, pastries, breads, bagels, bars, brownies, scones, muffins and Summit Snacks™.
Opening this bakery is a dream come true for Blair, who once thought it was too farfetched. “For over 20 years I’ve been told I should sell my bakes,” she said. “I never gave it any real consideration as it seemed like such an unreachable dream.”
In 2019, Blair lost her job and had to figure something else out. Being hearing impaired — having suddenly lost all hearing eight years ago due to a sudden onset of Ménière’s disease — she could no longer comfortably do jobs that she is trained for and has experience in.
“When I couldn’t find a suitable job replacement that met my needs, I decided it was time to chase the dream,” she said.
About two years ago, Blair got the ball rolling by obtaining all necessary licenses and signing up for her first farmers market.
“The rest is history,” Blair said, sharing that the business skyrocketed overnight.
With that quick success grew the need for a commercial space. She was outgrowing her home kitchen, while yearning to expand her product line beyond what is allowed for home processors in New York state.
Upon starting this endeavor, Blair was not considering such a large venture. “However once I realized this baking gig had a lot of promise, the dream of owning a little old fashioned community bakery really came to light,” she said.
Now on the brink of opening a bakery, Blair wants to create “a comfortable friendly environment where community members can come together for a cup of locally sourced coffee and a fresh baked treat. A place to relax and mingle. A place for the family to visit Sunday after church for a sweet treat and some fresh bread for Sunday supper,” she said. “Think Hallmark and the bakeries in their Christmas movies… that’s my vision for my bakery.”
Some of the most popular products by The Sugar Fairy Bakes are Blair’s made-fromscratch pies, huge 12-ounce cinnamon buns, handmade puff pastry Danishes, her version of a pop tart made with buttery flaky pie crust, her signature death by chocolate cake, blueberry muffins that she’s been told are “to die for” and a special banana bread made using her grandmother’s recipe.
“My grandmother’s banana bread makes it to the top of the list for anyone who has ever tried it and this happens to be the item that started my love of baking over 30 years ago,” Blair said.
The Sugar Fairy Bakes also makes more than 250 types of cookies, and will be bringing back the monthly cookie subscription service after the shop is open.
For the holidays, The Sugar Fairy Bakes is featuring holiday specialty items available for pre-order on the bakery website, along with party trays, cookie platters, breakfast trays and novelty hot cocoa bombs — a trend that Blair first brought to the region in early 2020. Seasonal cookies, cannolis, cheesecakes, cream pies and fruit cake (another recipe from Blair’s grandmother) will be available at the shop as well.
Following the bakery opening, its hours will be 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
More information about Sugar Fairy Bakes LLC is available online at thesugarfairybakes.com and www.facebook.com/TheSugarFairyBakes.