After 18 years of living in LaFayette, Shana Allgood noticed the need for more places to eat lunch in town. Working in the field of accounting, she longed to get out from behind a desk and serve the community. So she began baking and decorating cakes a year and a half ago.
She now does it full-time as co-owner of Southern Bliss Bakery.
"I like being around people and making people happy," Allgood said. "We have a complete menu of sandwiches and salads. We make cupcakes, wedding cakes and birthday cakes. We make doughnuts, muffins, quiches and cheesecakes."
The deli counter boasts an assortment of rare-to-find Boar's Head meats and cheeses, all gluten-free, she said. The variety can be made into sandwiches and coupled with homemade potato salad and pickles.
The glass case on the far wall contains an assortment of mouthwatering cupcakes, from the Tropical Paradise with coconut and pineapple to the chocolate-filled s'more marshmallow cupcake and other fun flavors.
On average, Allgood said she creates 85-110 cupcakes daily and usually sells out by the end of the day. The response to her new business has been better than she anticipated, she added.
"We love it. Everyone is so gracious," said Allgood. "We get super busy between 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, so my daughter Morgan helps. It's literally standing room only sometimes."
Shana Allgood's mother Evelyn Gordon makes the sandwiches while she bakes the sweets. The reuben is the most popular sandwich choice on the menu. Morgan Allgood preps the plates by adding potato salad and pickles. Her mother serves the customers at the tables.
"I come in at 7 a.m. every day and have everything baked by 11 a.m.," Shana Allgood said. "My husband and I decorate cakes with buttercream and fondant icing Friday night until sometimes 3 a.m. Saturday morning. I have seven orders for Saturday right now."
She and her family began renovating the business in early March and took their time to get it right, she said. The walls were repainted pink and the floors redone with black and white checker tiles. Tommy Allgood painted the 'murals on the walls and updated the furniture to complete the stylish diner look.
"Everything is made from scratch daily," Shana Allgood said. "I want to encourage people to come out for lunch or an early dinner. I personally like to create the pimento cheese melt for myself and I like to eat cheesecake for dessert."
From left, Southern Bliss Bakery staff members Morgan Allgood, Evelyn Gordon, Haven Allgood and co-owner Shana Allgood look forward to serving customers lunch and cupcakes. Not pictured are co-owner Tommy Allgood and Macy Allgood, who also help run the family business.
Photo by Katie Ward Hamilton