From Politics To Pastry Grows In Alexandria Amid Pandemic

ALEXANDRIA, VA — After a 20-year-career as an environmental lawyer and lobbyist in DC, Amy DuVall decided to leave her work in 2018 and pursue the study of pastry. The next year, DuVall had opened a home-based business to share her Italian cookies and other baked goods.

From politics to pastry is a business DuVall runs out of her Alexandria home. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, her main source of sales had been from farmers markets. The pandemic put a halt to that, and DuVall pivoted a few months later to offer contactless pickup and delivery. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, DuVall's business has actually grown since 2019.

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Below is more information on from politics to pastry.

Business name

from politics to pastry

Location

Home-based in Alexandria

Website

www.frompoliticstopastry.com

Hours

Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-6pm

When and how did the business get started?

In 2018, I left my 20-year career as an environmental lawyer and lobbyist in downtown DC to focus on my creative side and study pastry. In 2019, I opened my own small, home-based business specializing in Italian cookies (my husband's family is Italian) and culinary instruction (I love to teach). from politics to pastry has been baking up smiles ever since!

What does your business offer?

Italian cookies, custom baked goods including scones, biscuits, rolls, and more, and culinary instruction (currently virtual only, focused on baking and pasta)

What's your most popular product or service?

Italian rainbow cookies! But the Millionaire Shortbread are up there, too.

What's your favorite thing about the community your business is located in?

I love how inviting and inclusive the Del Ray and Alexandria community is. I have met so many wonderful fellow small business owners, each with their own story to share, and each willing to share experiences and support each other.

What kind of impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on business?

I am in an immunocompromised household, so COVID-19 brought my participation in my main source of sales, Farmers Markets, to a complete stop, and I have not yet returned. After temporarily closing the business for a couple months, I reemerged in July 2020 with contactless pickup and delivery, using my home as home base. My customers and the Alexandria community as a whole have been very supportive. Amazingly, my sales numbers have grown since 2019.

Do you have any favorite memories at the business over the years?

All the wonderful customers I have met and the honor they have given me in making their special occasions, their general days, better and filled with a smile. This and also the first time I introduced myself as "Amy DuVall, Owner of from politics to pastry." That was so exciting and made me so proud to have created something from scratch.