The smell of fresh-baked cookies, cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats now fills the streets of Dorchester, where Lola Sue’s has quickly become a new destination for locals.
Having opened June 24, Lola Sue’s has brought new vibrancy to Dorchester this summer.
Ashley Slama, owner and founder of Lola Sue’s, has fond memories of baking with her grandmothers, Lola and Sue. Naturally, she chose to name her bakery after them.
“My favorite was always baking with them during Christmas,” Slama said.
Photos of Slama’s two grandmothers are displayed in the storefront. Next to her grandmother Lola’s photo sits a china mug with a pink floral pattern. Slama took inspiration from the mug’s design, using it to create the print for her curtains and the outer rim of her logo.
Before opening Lola Sue’s, Slama was a stay-at-home mom. She said opening the business rearranged her life, including finding daycare for her children, but she enjoys having the opportunity to interact with adults.
“Talking to adults and other humans,” Slama said, has been one of her favorite parts of owning and operating the business.
Slama said the community’s response has been positive, and she hopes to continue being available to the community.
“My biggest thing was that I wanted to be somewhere that anybody can come in and feel welcome,” Slama said.
Bailey Velder has become a regular customer at Lola Sue’s and said the bakery has become a special part of the community.”
“Lola Sue’s is such a special part of the Dorchester community,” Velder said. “Ashley has created something that truly feels like a reflection of our community. It’s friendly, welcoming and full of heart. You can tell how much love and hard work she puts into everything she does.
“It’s so amazing seeing Ashley so invested in our little town and giving people another reason to support one another in Dorchester,”
Slama said lemon bundt cakes and brownies are among the bakery’s best sellers.
In addition to baked goods, Lola Sue’s offers daily breakfast and lunch specials, as well as ice cream, shakes, coffee, lemonades, dirty sodas, energy drinks and more. Slama said dirty sodas and lemonades tend to be favorites among children.
She works to keep her prices affordable, with drinks and frozen treats ranging from $3 to $9. Baked goods, including cookies, brownies, mini cheesecakes and cinnamon rolls, range from $1 to $5. Breakfast and lunch meals range from $5 to $10.
Slama also accepts special orders for baked goods, including cheesecakes, bundt cakes, cinnamon rolls, cookies and more.
Slama recently hosted her first event at Lola Sue’s, featuring a pop-up from a local jewelry store. She said the event was a success and hopes to host more in the future.
“I will try to have more pop-up events and invite other small vendors,” Slama said.
Slama also owns Saddle Sisters with her sister. Lola Sue’s features a retail rack for Saddle Sisters, as well as vendor space for other local creators, including makers of freeze-dried candy and car diffusers.
This Christmas season, Slama and her cousin, Shelby Klozenbucher, owner of Sugar & Blush in Wilber, plan to host a combined platter event. Customers will be able to choose a platter and mix and match baked goods to create their own assortment.
Lola Sue’s regularly posts daily specials and hours on its Facebook page to help customers stay up to date.
The bakery is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
One of Slama’s long-term goals for Lola Sue’s is to install a hood in the bakery or eventually move to a location where one can be installed. Having a hood would allow her to add a stove and expand the types of treats she can make.
Originally from the York area, Slama moved to Dorchester about two years ago with her husband, Brady, a Dorchester native, and their three children: Amelia, 7; Raylee, 4; and Landon, 2.
Lola Sue’s is located at 102 E. Eighth St., Suite 101, in Dorchester. For updates, follow Lola Sue’s on Facebook.
