Honey Baked Bee owner Shannon Connolly. (Submitted photos)
Church Hill is set to get another bakery and sweets shop – one with a gothic twist.
Honey Baked Bee will move into the old Anthony’s on the Hill space at 2824 E. Broad St. later this summer.
Bakery owner Shannon Connolly got the keys to her new 1,200-square-foot space about a week ago. With some minor touches — a few new walls and some painting — she’s targeting a Sept. 1 opening.
Connolly was born on Halloween, which she said inspired her to infuse a darker, spooky aesthetic into her new business while remaining kid-friendly.
Influenced by a well-known gothic-themed bakery, Gideon’s Bakehouse based in Florida, Connolly said Honey Baked Bee will sport an all black ceiling and black walls. The menu will revolve around a featured character — a ghost named Gary — doing different things each month. For example, when the bakery opens, its first theme will center around Gary going to the Virginia State Fair, which is scheduled for the last week of September. Connolly plans to serve cotton candy donuts, among other menu items that reflect the theme.
Oversized cinnamon rolls, half-pound cookies and buttercream will be staples of Honey Baked Bee’s menu.
Oversized cinnamon rolls, half-pound cookies and buttercream will be the staples of Honey Baked Bee’s menu, Connolly said. She looks to source her coffee and honey locally, but hasn’t closed deals with vendors yet. She’s also working on recipes to include gluten-free and vegan options.
Connolly is new to Virginia, moving to Henrico last year after spending most of her career in education in New Jersey and Delaware.
Her turning point came this spring after a tough day at work as an assistant vice principal.
“I just said, ‘I’ve had enough. It’s been a tough day. I’m gonna go lock myself in the kitchen,’” Connolly said. “I created these huge, amazing cookies, and I’m like, ‘This is where I belong. I need to do this all day, every day.’”
After deciding to take the entrepreneurial plunge, she moved quickly.
“I don’t do patience well at all. When I want something, I want it now,” Connolly said. “It’s been just a go, go, go ever since.”
She started looking for a retail space and was attracted to the big windows and history of the Anthony’s on the Hill building, and with the small-town feel of Church Hill. The pizzeria closed earlier this year after a decade in business.
Connolly said she’s spending about $100,000 on startup costs, all of which she said is personal funds set aside for the business. Between $30,000 and $40,000 of that will go toward equipment, as Connolly said there were no leftover appliances from Anthony’s on the Hill.
Connolly’s daughters in front of the family’s new business.
Honey Baked Bee will join other bakeries in Church Hill, including Sub Rosa and Proper Pie Co.
As for her bakery’s name, Connolly said she and her three daughters came up with it together and it was inspired by her own love of honey.
She plans for her daughters to be in the business. Connolly’s eldest daughter will help out at the register, and the younger ones will start out by doing smaller tasks around the store and eventually start baking.
She hopes to keep the bakery in the family and one day pass it on to her daughters, though succession planning will come later.
“Ideally, I want to run this until I can’t anymore,” Connolly said. “I love Church Hill and plan on staying there for as long as they’ll have me.”
Honey Baked Bee owner Shannon Connolly. (Submitted photos)
Church Hill is set to get another bakery and sweets shop – one with a gothic twist.
Honey Baked Bee will move into the old Anthony’s on the Hill space at 2824 E. Broad St. later this summer.
Bakery owner Shannon Connolly got the keys to her new 1,200-square-foot space about a week ago. With some minor touches — a few new walls and some painting — she’s targeting a Sept. 1 opening.
Connolly was born on Halloween, which she said inspired her to infuse a darker, spooky aesthetic into her new business while remaining kid-friendly.
Influenced by a well-known gothic-themed bakery, Gideon’s Bakehouse based in Florida, Connolly said Honey Baked Bee will sport an all black ceiling and black walls. The menu will revolve around a featured character — a ghost named Gary — doing different things each month. For example, when the bakery opens, its first theme will center around Gary going to the Virginia State Fair, which is scheduled for the last week of September. Connolly plans to serve cotton candy donuts, among other menu items that reflect the theme.
Oversized cinnamon rolls, half-pound cookies and buttercream will be staples of Honey Baked Bee’s menu.
Oversized cinnamon rolls, half-pound cookies and buttercream will be the staples of Honey Baked Bee’s menu, Connolly said. She looks to source her coffee and honey locally, but hasn’t closed deals with vendors yet. She’s also working on recipes to include gluten-free and vegan options.
Connolly is new to Virginia, moving to Henrico last year after spending most of her career in education in New Jersey and Delaware.
Her turning point came this spring after a tough day at work as an assistant vice principal.
“I just said, ‘I’ve had enough. It’s been a tough day. I’m gonna go lock myself in the kitchen,’” Connolly said. “I created these huge, amazing cookies, and I’m like, ‘This is where I belong. I need to do this all day, every day.’”
After deciding to take the entrepreneurial plunge, she moved quickly.
“I don’t do patience well at all. When I want something, I want it now,” Connolly said. “It’s been just a go, go, go ever since.”
She started looking for a retail space and was attracted to the big windows and history of the Anthony’s on the Hill building, and with the small-town feel of Church Hill. The pizzeria closed earlier this year after a decade in business.
Connolly said she’s spending about $100,000 on startup costs, all of which she said is personal funds set aside for the business. Between $30,000 and $40,000 of that will go toward equipment, as Connolly said there were no leftover appliances from Anthony’s on the Hill.
Connolly’s daughters in front of the family’s new business.
Honey Baked Bee will join other bakeries in Church Hill, including Sub Rosa and Proper Pie Co.
As for her bakery’s name, Connolly said she and her three daughters came up with it together and it was inspired by her own love of honey.
She plans for her daughters to be in the business. Connolly’s eldest daughter will help out at the register, and the younger ones will start out by doing smaller tasks around the store and eventually start baking.
She hopes to keep the bakery in the family and one day pass it on to her daughters, though succession planning will come later.
“Ideally, I want to run this until I can’t anymore,” Connolly said. “I love Church Hill and plan on staying there for as long as they’ll have me.”