Vegan bakery in downtown Hamilton closing next week, but remains for sale
Published September 28, 2022 at 12:44 pm
For at least the second time this week, a female-powered downtown Hamilton food business has announced it is closing.
Dolled Up Desserts, a plant-based “inclusive dessert” sweet shop located at 142 James St. N., has announced that its final service under owner and founder Katarina Poletto will take palce Oct. 8, which is the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Poletto, a McMaster University science grad who started the award-winning bakery in 2016, made the announcement in a social media post this morning (Sept. 28).
“This was not an easy decision, nor is it ideal, but sometimes life throws unexpected wrenches into your plans and you need to change gears,” Poletto wrote in an Instagram post.
“There are no words to describe the gratitude I have for you, our community and supporters. thank you for an incredible six years of inclusive dessert.”
Poletto added the business is still for sale if “anyone wants to keep the legacy going.”
Orders for that final service need to be placed by Friday (Sept. 30). Dolled-Up Desserts self-describes as “a female powered, Hamilton proud, award winning gluten free and vegan bakery, recipe developer and baking mix manufacturer” with goals of “making the world a more inclusive and tastier place for everyone.”
That’s My Jam, a sandwich shop at 51 King William St., is closing its doors on Friday.
In general terms, plant-based and dairy-free sweets have a higher price-point than what is traditionally been on the market. Rising food prices in Ontario and Hamilton also affect retailers just as much as consumers.
Poletto launched Dolled-Up Dessert six years ago with a $3,000 grant from the City of Hamilton meant for entrepreneurial students to start a business over the summer. In 2019, the bakery won a FirstOntario Credit Union award for small business.
The downtown core still has options for gluten-free sweets, including Sugar Daddies in the Royal Connaught building on King St.
(Cover photo via Facebook / Dolled-Up Desserts.)
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