Black Tie Affair set to move into Greencastle bakery spot

July 23, 2008|By KATE S. ALEXANDER

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - The new tenant of 42 E. Baltimore St. in Greencastle hopes it won't be long until she can give the town something Simply Irresistible from the old ovens of Wolf's Bakery.

Local entrepreneur Shayna Gehring has signed a lease to move her business, The Black Tie Affair, into the empty storefront as early as Sept. 1, and, pending the results of the sheriff's sale scheduled for Aug. 11, use the old bakery equipment to expand her services with a new pastry division called Simply Irresistible: Cakes, Cookies, Chocolates and More.

Gehring has a history of filling the vacant storefronts in downtown Greencastle with thriving retail.

In late 2007, she gave her event-planning business a new home by moving into the old home of Cup O' Joe after Steve and Jodi Carbaugh merged the coffee shop with Wolf's Bakery.

"I chose Greencastle because this is an upscale town that has that Norman Rockwell feel to it," she said.

When Wolf's closed in March, she jumped on the opportunity to move into a place where she could really stretch her creative wings.

She said she was waiting for a larger space to open downtown so she could expand her services to include a bakery.

Moving a few short feet away will great simplify business for Gehring, while at the same time giving her much needed room to grow.

Space is tight in her current downtown boutique and definitely not large enough to add an in-house bakery.

Between her storefront at 21 E. Baltimore St. and a warehouse around the corner, Gehring said she rents only 1,850 square feet.

The old Wolf's Bakery site is about 3,000 square feet, not including its outdoor porch.

"Business is, whew, it's crazy, and we are booking so many events," she said. "Technically, this move will save me money. It will double my square footage for the same price."

Gehring has already begun to plan transforming the old bakery into a full-service event-planning boutique and confectionery.

"I am going to do the place in antique white with chandeliers, a show room and outdoor dining where you can eat the cake and cookies before you order for your event," she said. "It is not going to be geared like Wolf's, it will be geared toward parties and one-stop event planning."

While Gehring might know what her new shop will look and smell like, she has can only speculate what date she will make the move.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office has scheduled a sale for Aug. 11 to sell the equipment that remains inside the building.

Until the sale, Gehring said she cannot move.

In the meantime, she is stocking up on merchandise and waiting for the chance to bid on the old bakery equipment at the sheriff's sale.

"I was told by the landlord that we are shooting for September," she said. "I am hoping to be in there as soon as possible to start renovations."

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