It may be hard to imagine, but a village as small as Pleasantville actually has two bakeries, both within a few blocks of each other. The secret to keeping business in both locations is appealing to a niche, and sticking to it. Flour and Sun Bakery focuses on cupcakes, while Pleasantville Bakery and Cafe focuses on timeless goods. Both bakeries have been able to hold onto their specialties and continue to have good business in the area, relying on large orders from businesses including hotels.

Tanya Rivera, a baker’s assistant at Pleasantville Bakery and Cafe, attributes its success to each business’ unique approach to baked goods. “We have a more traditional bakery environment,” she said. “Our berry tarts and scones are some of our most popular [items].”

Having only been open since April, Pleasantville Bakery and Cafe has already built up a loyal clientele. Large contracts from hotels and older residents bring in the most business. “The older folks love our traditional favorites, like a good black and white cookie or croissant,” Rivera said.

At Flour and Sun Bakery, owner Cait Dwyer credits cupcakes, the most popular item, for keeping her in business. “The bakery started in 2009 with just cupcakes, and since I took over in 2014, we’ve been expanding.”

Similar to Pleasantville Bakery and Cafe, Flour and Sun also relies heavily on wholesale orders and events. Dwyer credits making everything from scratch as their niche. “Nothing is store-bought, from our fillings to icings.”