Less than 24 hours after signing a 41-page lease, Amy Dickson was already tearing up carpet inside a former shoe store.
Across the room, Rebecca Ross and her 6-year-old son, Bexton, rolled padding into piles while discussing where ovens, freezers, and display cases might soon sit.
The new address is 910 The Shoppes at Adams Ridge, the former Stride Rite shoe store.
The vision? A full retail bakery and commercial kitchen shared by Hot Mama’s Pierogies and Bebe Kakes — this time bigger, brighter, and built for growth.
“It’s scary,” Dickson admitted of signing the lease. “But it felt scary the first time, too.”
A Bigger Step Forward
Their new 1,400-square-foot space is nearly twice the size of their previous location off Grand Avenue in Mars — offering more parking, visibility and room to grow.
“It’s about twice the size, which is perfect,” Ross said. “We needed room to grow both businesses.”
The front of the store will become a retail bakery space. The back will house a fully permitted commercial kitchen — larger ovens, more freezers, expanded prep tables.
If township approvals allow, the pair hopes to add limited seating so customers can enjoy hot pierogies, and pastries.
“I already have a list of new pierogi flavors I want to start,” Dickson said, noting she currently offers 26 varieties, including customer favorites like potato and cheese and buffalo chicken.
Ross is exploring macarons, homemade Pop-Tarts, protein cookies, soft pretzels and expanded hot menu items.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “There’s a lot I’ve been thinking about.”
Turning Retail into a Kitchen
The space was previously a shoe store — meaning extensive upgrades are required to meet commercial kitchen standards.
They’ll need:
- 220 electrical lines installed for ovens
- Plumbing for a three-basin sink and hand-wash station
- New signage for the storefront and Route 228 marquee
- Flooring modifications
- Paint and cosmetic updates
- Township permits and inspections
The transition hasn’t been simple.
“We went from a three-page lease to a 41-page lease,” Ross said. “Just reading that in itself…”
The lease negotiation process took nearly two months and required attorney review and multiple revisions.
Add in two months without income during the transition, and the risk becomes real.
For two small-business owners who rely on holiday seasons and catering orders, stepping away from revenue wasn’t just inconvenient — it was uncertain.
“No income for two months,” Ross said. “That’s been the hardest part.”
Still, neither woman considered quitting.
“We definitely talk each other up when we have our moments,” Dickson said. “One has to be the talker. We can’t both waver at the same time.”
Community Help
To help offset startup expenses, friends and family launched a GoFundMe campaign with a modest goal: $2,500.
Funds will go toward electrical work, plumbing, signage, and required installations.
“The community has been so supportive,” Ross said. “I’m always shocked at how great people are and how they rally to support us.”
Dickson added, “It just feels like everybody’s a part of it.”
For two businesses built on loyal customers and word-of-mouth growth, that sense of community support matters.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the country,” Ross said. “We source locally. We hire locally. We support each other.”
A Family Affair
The new location is also a family project.
Rebecca’s husband, Ken, has been involved in the buildout, even weighing in on whether to polish the concrete floors instead of painting them.
Bexton, 6, offered his own assessment of the new space.
“It’s big,” he said. “You can run in circles around here.”
When asked what he’s most excited about, his answer was immediate: “Donuts.”
Big Donut Saturday — a customer favorite — is expected to return once the bakery reopens.
Looking Ahead
The goal is to open within a month, pending township approval and inspections.
In the meantime, the women are documenting the transformation — from torn carpet and bare concrete to ovens, display cases and the return of familiar smells.
“It’s better signage, more parking, more foot traffic,” Dickson said. “We want it to grow.”
And for anyone who hasn’t tried their food yet?
Ross didn’t hesitate.
“What are you waiting for?”