Did someone say cookie subscription box? Sweet Spot Studio debuts Charlotte storefront
When Jossie Lukacik, owner of Sweet Spot Studio, made the difficult decision to temporarily close studio operation in June, it seemed the year continued to get worse.
Lukacik had already closed public classes and moved operations online almost immediately after COVID-19 reached the Charlotte community. Even with the online support, she said she was “working herself into the ground to keep things operating.” She realized she wouldn’t be able to continue business-as-usual while COVID cases continued to rise. On June 8, she announced on Facebook that she would close the studio for two months, citing a remodel and plans to move forward in a sustainable way while saving capital and building a new online infrastructure.
And behind the scenes, she was whipping up a recipe for a few new surprises for her space in Echo Hills, near Oakhurst. This September, Lukacik will reopen with three delectable offerings:
Sweet Spot Studio will reopen with a new space for cookie classes;
Sweet Spot Supply Company will sell ingredients and tools for cookie-making;
Sweet Spot Cookie Club subscription boxes will debut for cookie decorating.
“To say these past few months have been busy is an understatement,” said Lukacik. “My goal has always been to satisfy the cravings of curious and aspiring bakers of Charlotte and beyond, and I think we’ve finally found ways to continue pursuing that mission safely with COVID-19 in mind,” Lukacik said. “Our team cannot wait for you all to experience what we’ve been hard at work on — we look forward to this new and improved baking adventure with you all.”
To celebrate the re-launch, Lucacik will host a Sweet Spot Block Party on Sept. 5 from 10 a.m.-noon. The party will include tours of the new Sweet Spot Studio space (reservations required), an outdoor bake sale featuring six partners and Coordinates Coffee. The grand opening of the new Sweet Spot Supply Company storefront will take place the same day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lukacik and her team will implement COVID-19 event policies, including reservations to visit the studio, small groups, social distancing, temperature checks and required masks.
New spaces, planned around COVID-19 social distancing
No detail was overlooked when planning the new Sweet Spot Studio space, which was curated with social distancing in mind. Patrons will be required to sign a COVID-19 waiver and wear masks during class. Tables are set safe distances apart and sinks are now “knee operated” at smaller tables to give each person more room. Classes will open Aug. 21.
To continue to encourage bakers to pursue their passions, the studio will offer two membership tiers. Both tiers will include one class credit per month, the ability to sign up for classes before the schedule is released and a Cambro pastry storage container to take home pastries made in class. Tier A members ($100 per month) will get 15 percent off additional class registrations, 20 percent off retail offerings and a specialty products sampler box each month. Tier B members ($75 per month) will receive 10 percent off additional class registrations and retail offerings.
While the studio moved to a new space, the old studio will now house the Sweet Spot Supply Company, where you can find specialty ingredients, tools (think: cookie cutters), supplies, gifts and merchandise. It will officially open to customers on Sept. 5 with both in-person and curbside services. And if you take a class, you’ll receive a discount on items in the store, so you can recreate cookies, cakes and sweet delights in your own space.
The sweetest subscription box
As we all spend more time at home, it becomes more difficult to fill time with exciting activities. Enter the Sweet Spot Cookie Club, a subscription box that will come with everything you need to participate in an online cookie decorating class. When you sign up, you’ll receive two sets of sugar cookies (regular or gluten-free), royal icing and all the tools you need to decorate. You’ll also have access to a pre-recorded class on the website for direction.
Sign-ups begin Sept. 5, and options range from six months for $45, 3 months for $50 or a single box purchase for $55. All options include free shipping. And if you sign up in September, both the six- and three-month options will come with a complimentary cookie turntable (six-month memberships will also receive cookie cutters each month). Run, don’t walk.
Space for entrepreneurs
Although the Sweet Spot Kitchen isn’t new, it’s still close to Lukacik’s heart, as it rounds out her mission to “satisfy the cravings of curious and aspiring bakers of Charlotte and beyond.” Aside from acting as rentable commercial kitchen, the space is also home to a community of aspiring culinary entrepreneurs taking the next step in their businesses.
The kitchen is rented for a reasonable price and includes guidance from Lukacik herself on business processes like insurance and certifications. Out of ten current tenants, three are “originals” and have been there from the start.
The baking community is alive and well in Charlotte, which means we’ll have quite a few sweets to look forward to in our futures.
Sweet Spot Studio
4418 Monroe Road, Suite D
Learn to bake cookies here.
Sweet Spot Supply Company
4412 Monroe Road, Suite D
Get your cookie ingredients here.
Instagram: @sweetspotstudioclt
