Pearl’s Bake Shoppe at 5811 Patterson Ave. was founded in 2010 and moved to its current location several years ago. (Jack Jacobs photo)
A local bakery is under new ownership for the second time in under a year.
Pearl’s Bake Shoppe at 5811 Patterson Ave. was sold in recent days by sisters Kelly Polk, Holly Shaheen and Melissa Berling, who had purchased it last spring.
The latest buyer is Paul Hubbard, owner of local barbecue joint Deep Run Roadhouse, according to an announcement made by Pearl’s earlier this week.
Hubbard said in the announcement that the bakery, known for its cakes and cupcakes among other baked goods, planned to undergo “improvements” and that he intended to offer additional compensation and benefits to employees in the coming months.
“I am excited to announce all the improvements that will be coming to Pearl’s in the next few months. While I am eager to build upon the proud legacy of Pearl’s as Richmond’s favorite little dessert shoppe on the corner of Patterson and Libbie, please know that we are committed to keeping what is working and improving what hasn’t,” Hubbard said in the announcement. “We firmly believe in quality, consistency and customer satisfaction, and it is my top priority to institute the processes needed to make these pillars of our business a reality.”
Hubbard didn’t respond to a phone message left Tuesday seeking further comment.
Paul Hubbard (BizSense file)
The change in ownership caps off the Westhampton bakery’s short stint under Polk, Shaheen and Berling. The sisters, who are also all local real estate agents, bought Pearl’s from original owner and co-founder Laurie Blakey.
Berling said in a brief interview Tuesday that the sisters had decided to get out of the bakery business and were on the hunt for a buyer when Hubbard made an offer.
“We got an offer and we decided we would rather focus on our real estate careers and families,” Berling said. “Owning and operating Pearl’s was a great experience and we learned a lot.”
The deal closed in late January. Nathan Hughes of Sperity Real Estate Ventures handled negotiations on behalf of the sellers.
Hubbard opened the first Deep Run Roadhouse at 12379 Gayton Road in 2013. Deep Run also had a location near VCU at 309 N. Laurel St. from 2015 until its closure in summer 2020.
Pearl’s Bake Shoppe at 5811 Patterson Ave. was founded in 2010 and moved to its current location several years ago. (Jack Jacobs photo)
A local bakery is under new ownership for the second time in under a year.
Pearl’s Bake Shoppe at 5811 Patterson Ave. was sold in recent days by sisters Kelly Polk, Holly Shaheen and Melissa Berling, who had purchased it last spring.
The latest buyer is Paul Hubbard, owner of local barbecue joint Deep Run Roadhouse, according to an announcement made by Pearl’s earlier this week.
Hubbard said in the announcement that the bakery, known for its cakes and cupcakes among other baked goods, planned to undergo “improvements” and that he intended to offer additional compensation and benefits to employees in the coming months.
“I am excited to announce all the improvements that will be coming to Pearl’s in the next few months. While I am eager to build upon the proud legacy of Pearl’s as Richmond’s favorite little dessert shoppe on the corner of Patterson and Libbie, please know that we are committed to keeping what is working and improving what hasn’t,” Hubbard said in the announcement. “We firmly believe in quality, consistency and customer satisfaction, and it is my top priority to institute the processes needed to make these pillars of our business a reality.”
Hubbard didn’t respond to a phone message left Tuesday seeking further comment.
Paul Hubbard (BizSense file)
The change in ownership caps off the Westhampton bakery’s short stint under Polk, Shaheen and Berling. The sisters, who are also all local real estate agents, bought Pearl’s from original owner and co-founder Laurie Blakey.
Berling said in a brief interview Tuesday that the sisters had decided to get out of the bakery business and were on the hunt for a buyer when Hubbard made an offer.
“We got an offer and we decided we would rather focus on our real estate careers and families,” Berling said. “Owning and operating Pearl’s was a great experience and we learned a lot.”
The deal closed in late January. Nathan Hughes of Sperity Real Estate Ventures handled negotiations on behalf of the sellers.
Hubbard opened the first Deep Run Roadhouse at 12379 Gayton Road in 2013. Deep Run also had a location near VCU at 309 N. Laurel St. from 2015 until its closure in summer 2020.
Seems like a great fit. Congrats! Paul does a great job with weddings. Now he can offer the dinner and the dessert. Well played.
That place has gone downhill fast. Once the original owner sold, it was game over.
happy to report my kids think the cupcakes still taste the same.
Yeah we got our wedding cake and went back for the 1-yr anniversary cake and the certificate was NOT honored. We had ordered the new cake too and they told us this at pick up so we felt obligated and paid for it. Won’t be back.
Why would you go anywhere else other than Westhampton Bakery?