A new bakeshop has opened in Peckville, though its pastries and owner might look familiar to some.
Kendal Johnson is the owner and chief baker of Lulu’s Bakeshop, which formerly had the name of Kendal’s Cakery Kreations. The business was open during summers only for several years while Johnson learned about both baking and running a business during her time at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport.
Having graduated this past May, however, the 21-year-old Dickson City resident has now become free enough to make baking her full-time business. With this development came several other changes that Johnson says were long overdue.
“Giving (the business) a new name is something I’ve been planning since I was in college,” said Johnson. “But since it was just a seasonal and holiday thing until now, I held off doing anything until I graduated.”
Lulu’s Bakeshop was a renaming with a more personal connection: “Lulu” is her nickname for her grandmother, the person who got her interested and passionate about baking when she was younger. What started out as the two of them making holiday cookies together every year has become a one-person operation, where her grandmother and other family members only help out Johnson when there are large orders or several of them at once to complete.
“I like having control over the baking process, but they’re always happy to help out when I need it,” Johnson said.
Johnson has had her fair share of experience in professional kitchens, having taken on two different internships while at Penn College. One of them was at the Sweeterie, the bakery below the Chocolatier at Hersheypark, while the other one sent her down to the Kentucky Derby in Louisville to work on both the baking and culinary sides of the process during the events of the day.
Compared to those kitchens, where the recipes ruled and there were very strict guidelines on what flourishes could and couldn’t be added, making orders under Lulu’s is very freeing for Johnson and is exactly what she grew to love so much about baking in the first place.
“Adding my special touch to things is what makes it fun … I’m mostly making orders as they come in, so I can do more than I could’ve ever done working at my internships,” said Johnson.
Located at 1000 Main St. in Peckville, Lulu’s is beginning its life as a by-order bakeshop: Cookies, cakes, cupcakes and several other items are being offered, but they must be called ahead and ordered for the time being.
Johnson plans to do occasional pop-ups where there are items available in the case, with the very first one during the Aug. 29 soft opening being a smash hit. But until she is in a stable enough position with the business to hire help, she says it’s the choice that makes the most sense both financially and personally.
The next pop-up will be a Halloween one on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with fall and spooky-themed baked goods being available at that time.
“There’ll be pop-ups for … all of the big baking times of the year. I’ll probably stick with this for the first year or so while I see how many people come in and what they’d like to see,” Johnson said.
Regardless of the shape that the business ends up taking, Johnson is incredibly grateful she’s now able to make a career out of what she loves. She spent six years at Penn College, with each half of her time there focused on either business or baking, and she can now put what she’s learned into practice full-time.
To order from Lulu’s Bakeshop, or to find out what pop-ups are happening next, follow the bakery’s Facebook page or contact Johnson at 570-614-6807.
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Lulu’s Bakeshop, Kendal Johnson’s baking business, is located at 1000 Main St. in Peckville. The by-order bakeshop offers cookies, cakes, cupcakes and several other items, but they must be called ahead and ordered for the time being. To order or find out about upcoming pop-ups, follow the bakery’s Facebook page or contact Johnson at 570-614-6807.