BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – December’s arrival marks a full year as a storefront operation for Beckley-based local business, Busy Bee Bakery.
The family-owned and operated establishment began with the mother-daughter duo of Brittany Cline and Nicky Bailey. Brittany’s brother Justin was brought on shortly after.
But the story of Busy Bee Bakery goes further back. The idea of a self-owned and operated bakery began as a childhood dream of founder Brittany Cline’s. Upon graduation from high school, however, Cline’s entrepreneurial spirit led her down a different path. Brittany Bailey Photography quickly grew into a bonafide success, but dreams of whipping up and serving tasty treats remained ever-present.
Eventually, the decision was made to pursue the idea of a bakery on a part-time basis while maintaining the photography business full-time. As it turns out, Cline was not the only one enthusiastic about the idea, and Busy Bee Bakery soon outgrew its station as a side-project. After operating the business out of an in-home kitchen for the first month, the decision was made to put all the eggs in the Busy Bee basket, as it were, and the current location was purchased as a storefront for the burgeoning venture.
The bakery’s name originated with Cline’s go-getter attitude from an early age, which prompted those who knew her to frequently refer to her as a “busy bee.” Cline and Bailey handle all the goings-on off the establishment themselves, from the baking and mixing to the decorating.
“My mother, Nicky Bailey, jumped right on board with the bakery idea and she is our co-owner here. I have the most supportive family in the world. It doesn’t matter what I do or what I want to do… my family is right there by my side helping me in every way they can,” Cline said.
The shop is well-known locally for its specialty takes on tasty classics such as cupcakes, cheesecake, donuts, and cannolis, as well as made-to-order hot and iced coffee drinks. The location is set up as a grab-and-go option, with emphasis on customer convenience. As such, the products are first-come-first serve.
Those interested in celebrating the first year of the Busy Bee storefront can stop by the Beckley location at 3559 Robert C Byrd Drive. The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday from 1pm to 5pm. More information can be found on the company website at https://www.busybeebakery-westvirginia.com/, as well as the Busy Bee Facebook page at https://facebook.com/busybeebakeryWV/.
