Sugar Mama Cookie Company set to open

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This article was published 30/03/2022 (1576 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. BONIFACE

Things will soon be a bit sweeter in St. Boniface.

That’s because the Sugar Mama Cookie Company is about to open its new storefront location at 184 Provencher Blvd.

As reported earlier this year, Sugar Mama owner and operator Vicki Melo is set fulfill a longtime dream of taking her online business to the next level and opening a physical storefront.

At press time, the business was slated to open its doors on Sat., April 2 at 10 a.m. There will be a ribbon cutting, and the first 100 hundred customers will get 30 per cent off all cookies. As well, Melo will be giving away free cookies to mothers, she said.

Melo was speaking on March 22, as two of her staff were busy making cookies for clients who pre-ordered. Prior to moving to the new location, Melo and her team rented space in commercial kitchens. As well as a bakery, the new digs will include a café area and merchandise. Visitors will also be able to sit at a counter and watch staff decorate their colourful creations.

“It’s really surreal seeing it all coming together after so many years,” said Melo, who lives in Bridgwater Trails. “So many people have been involved in this process, including graphic designers, interior designers and contractors. It’s been lots of work, but I feel good about it all. When I started the business six years ago, I knew very early on I wanted to open a coffee shop.”

In a quirk of timing, the process of acquiring the new location, including signing the lease, began around two years ago — just before COVID-19 hit Manitoba.

“We had our ducks in a row just before the pandemic hit,” Melo said. “Because of this, there have been so many unknowns, but we’ve kept moving forward, as there was no turning back after a certain point.”

Melo’s growing list of clients, as well as many more prospective new customers, will likely be glad she’s persevered with her dream to create and develop a cookie-related cornucopia for cookie lovers, aficionados and bakers.

The new setup will include a merchandise wall, which will showcase custom-made cookie cutters, different baking supplies, aprons and T-shirts.

“We want to become a one-stop shop for cookies and cookie supplies,” she said, noting she’ll be releasing a line of edible raw cookie dough cups and frozen cookie dough in the near future.

During the summer, she also plans to collaborate with a local company to create something with an ice cream theme. And she also hopes to hold cookie-decorating workshops on the second floor of the building.

“In terms of my shop, I hope to bring a fun and interesting space for everybody in the community. I want to create an environment where people can come in and sit, relax, have a coffee and have a cookie. I hope to create something different. This is a really great location, and I think it will be really good for our business,” she said.

Melo added that once the storefront is up and running, she’d like to expand her philanthropic reach.

“This is very important to me. I want to do charity work with Sugar Mama and find a way to give back. I really believe in giving back — it’s good for the soul, it’s good for the business and it’s good for the community.”

Go online at www.sugarmamacookiecompany.com for more information or visit @sugarmamacookiecompany on Instagram.