Business owner Ivy-Ann Fernandez opened her at-home café, Midori Matcha, last summer. The business was focused on specialty flavored matcha and coffee lattes, but Fernandez also offered Cookie Butter cinnamon rolls and other baked goods like banana bread muffins.
Through the business, Fernandez discovered a deeper love for baking and recently changed her business concept.
“Under Hawaiʻi cottage law [for homemade food products], I decided to pivot and create a walk-up bake stand that specializes in my baked goods,” she says.
Fernandez’s new bake stand, called The Sweet Stand, is located in Kapolei — specifically within Hoʻopili. The business celebrated its grand opening on May 20.
“I believe this will be the first bake stand located in Kapolei — Pohaku Estates – Alana Townhomes,” Fernandez says. “I took inspiration from my baked goods that were on my menu when I was running Midori Matcha. I was inspired by the bake stands I saw on the Big Island [via social media].”
The bake stand currently features desserts like Cookie Butter rolls ($5 each), focaccia bites ($10) — which come in flavors like cinnamon and blueberry — and banana bread ($15).
“I am currently working on a summer-inspired menu and my selection (of baked goods) will be rotating,” says Fernandez, who notes that summer menu flavors will feature popular options like mango sticky rice and strawberry cheesecake.
The business accepts pre-orders for baked goods via hotplate.com. Preorder pick-ups are located on a shelf within the bake stand.
Customers who walk up to the stand can pay via Venmo and Zelle or by cash (exact payments only). Instructions are provided at the bake stand.
Fernandez plans to eventually add drinks to the bake stand’s line-up. She also says the stand will be open three times a week, but days and times will vary.
“I intend to slowly incorporate iced matcha [cereal milk and Cookie Butter flavors] and iced coffee [bottled to-go] beginning in July,” she says. “For May and June, I am going to focus on my baked goods menu.
“Because of my career, set days (for the bake stand to open) are impossible,” she adds. “Customers will be updated on the dates via Instagram and hotplate.com."
CONTACT
The Sweet Stand
Instagram: @thesweetstand.hnl
hotplate.com/thesweetstand.hnl
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Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
