The Boutique Bakery Opens, Serving Up Sweets

Step into Herndon’s new and you'll be greeted with an array of fresh baked goods and the scent of cakes, as well as a warm welcome.

Stephanie Baker and Evan Sanderson have combined their skills to open the shop, located at 1031 Sterling Road, Suite 104, after the two met to talk cakes. The pair each had their own business creating cakes, as Stephanie the Baker and Sweets by E, but once they got talking they realized they could do so much more.

The Boutique Bakeshop opened quietly at first earlier this month, just letting family and friends know that they were working on selling some homemade goodness out of the space Baker—her real last name—had set up her business in back in 2010.

Baker said she didn’t have any open hours at the space previously, as her focus was on mostly wedding cakes, and it was by appointment only. She said since she didn’t use the space all the time, she thought it made sense to share it with another baker, when they got the idea to do more than just cakes.

Sanderson, a 2003 Herndon High School graduate, had a civilian job with the army and has a master’s in sports psychology. She said she began baking to release stress from her job and would bring goodies to friends and family. She realized she had a passion for it and made it her full time job, she said.

Baker began her wedding cake business in 2008. She graduated from culinary school in 2002 and worked in restaurants, hotels and with catering companies before moving to baking. She said working with a catering company allowed her to explore her baking side and she fell in love with decorating cakes.

The shop is now open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays are pick-up only. Baker said they’re not open on weekends because that’s when they’re out delivering cakes.*

Baker said Herndon had the right atmosphere for her business. “Herndon is one of those towns—the people who live in Herndon are proud to live in Herndon,” she said. She said people in town also like to buy local and appreciate the ability to do so.

Baker is a Sterling resident and said she likes her short commute as well. She said when her family moved to the area they saw what a great community Herndon was. She was also looking for a location that was cute, friendly and not in a retail-focused development.

Being that The Boutique Bakeshop is a small shop and products are made fresh in small quantities daily, Baker said it is helpful to be in a location that’s not in a shopping center with a high amount of foot traffic.

Sanderson said she never thought she would have come back to Herndon to open a bakery, but is glad she did. She said there’s not really anything in Herndon quite like what they’re doing and people are starting to pop in for a sweet more frequently.

“We bake everything in small batches like you would at home and it makes a difference,” Baker said.

For those having a meeting, gathering or wanting to take home a larger amount of treats, they have Bakeshop Boxes. Orders can be placed in advance and customers can pick up an assortment of goodies to take to the office or brunch.

The women said they want people to know this can be their hometown place to come for fresh goodies. They said they also want to get to know their customers favorites and requests, and will whip up a batch.

Sanderson said they’ve had a lot of positive word of mouth support already from friends and family and are looking to see more of the community.

“We’re not a coffee shop that happens to have baked goods, we’re a bake shop that happens to have coffee,” she said. 

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* This article has been edited to include The Boutique Bakeshop's new hours.