Sweetbites Cafe and Bakery Opening Soon in McLean

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Sweetbites Cafe and Bakery will be opening soon in McLean, at 6845 Elm St., next door to the McLean Post Office, according to information on the cafe’s Facebook page.

Sandra Panetta, an environmental scientist “with a finely calibrated sweet tooth,” is behind the operation. Sweetbites started about 15 years ago as a small catering operation out of her kitchen, Panetta explains in a Kickstarter video. She fondly recalls baking with her mother and turned to creating Sweetbites, first as a food truck business, after working as a scientist for 30 years.

Panetta launched a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $12,201 from 74 backers.

No opening date has been announced, but a message March 4 posted on the cafe’s Facebook page says: “Our Cafe & Bakery is *almost* ready!”

A photo of a sign posted to the cafe’s Facebook page notes that the menu will include breakfast (starting at 7 a.m.), sandwiches, salads, freshly baked artisan desserts and coffee and espresso.

PHOTOS courtesy of Sweetbites via Twitter and Facebook

Watch a video below to hear Panetta’s story and to get a preview of some of the scrumptious-looking sweets soon to be available at the new cafe: