Today we’d like to introduce you to Chastity Rodriguez-Hise.
Hi Chastity, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Having baked as a hobby my whole life, friends and colleagues began requesting custom orders from me. When COVID hit, my regular business as a Hairstylist had to be put on pause, so I began selling more baked goods out of our home. Orders kept me busy, and then when I was able to reopen my hair salon baking orders were still coming in. So much so that I was doing hair by day and baking by night to fulfill all of the orders. My husband suggested that it might be time for me to consider a new path and I was ready to make that change. The plan was if we could find a retail space that worked well for us that we would go for it…… Lo and behold, a college friend who also happened to be our insurance agent, had a perfect retail space available for us to rent so we jumped at the chance. We built out the space ourselves over the course of four months and opened in July of 2022. Our bakery specializes in small batch desserts, custom orders and once a month, pizza. During the week I run the business on my own, but when we have pizza pop-ups, classes or events, it becomes a family affair. My husband and I prepare sourdough pizza and bread from scratch, our two teenagers run the front of the house while we bake and cook. We are celebrating our 4th birthday this month and are so happy with how our little bakery is growing!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is definitely not easy to open a new business! Aside from the physical labor and costs of renovating a new space, the paperwork that goes into licensing, etc is a lot of work. Permits, inspections etc are never easy and definitely never go according to schedule.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Small batch desserts, custom orders, small catering jobs. We make everything from scratch unlove working with our customers to create one of a kind baked goods for them. Our pizzas and breads are inspired by our travels from around the world.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been a creative person whether it be baking, writing or dancing. I was also an athlete growing up and participated in all kinds of organized sports. I have always been very determined and motivated and goal oriented. Bit of an overachiever and perfectionist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Piesandcakes.com
- Instagram: @piesandcakesrva
