Inside The New Ownership at Charlie’s Bakery
The new owner of Charlie’s Bakery adds ice cream treats, along with a new name, to the local sweets institution.
(ROBERTO GONZALEZ)
Longtime Charlie’s Bakery owner Gary Hawks celebrated 50 years of his family’s popular sweets shop in October—then promptly retired. Orlando entrepreneur Tricia Hage had a dream to sell her homemade ice cream. With the stars perfectly aligned, Hage bought the bakery and renamed it Charlie’s Bakery & Creamery. The local dessert hot spot is set for its grand reopening Feb. 12 in Orlando’s Curry Ford West district. It will feature many of Charlie’s original bakery items plus 16 flavors of Hage’s homemade ice cream.
“I love that I bought an existing business that was 50 years old and such a staple in the community, but I also want to feel like it has my footprint on it,” Hage says. “I’m the future of Charlie’s, so I want to pay attention to existing customers but also incorporate the younger generation.”
After a full shop remodel, Charlie’s Bakery & Creamery will reopen and extend Friday and Saturday hours to 10 p.m. to cater to the after-dinner crowd, says Hage, who’s been developing ice cream offerings for months. In addition to more traditional offerings, guests can expect dairy-free options like coconut-based Almond Joy with dark chocolate and almonds. She’ll also offer ice cream pies and cookie sandwiches. Charlie’s most popular cookies, cakes and pies will remain in the bakery case, and customers can special order their favorites.
Hage offers 10 percent off orders for first responders and teachers. With the grand reopening just before Valentine’s Day, her shop will host a “Show Your Love for Charlie’s” event” to welcome Charlie’s regulars and new patrons.
