Buck, 31, who’s lived in Portland her entire life, says locals want to know one thing about this bakery: who is the mysterious Dollaro family running it? She laughs and explains that it’s actually an Italian translation of her last name.
“We thought about using a family name,” Buck says. “But we didn’t want to pick one grandmother over another.”
This deft handling of family politics has paid off as the bakery is staffed 100% by relatives. These include Danielle’s mother, grandmother, brother and cousins. Her husband handles all the books and helps take care of their two children while Buck is mixing batter and decorating cakes.
Buck gained her baking experience working at Piscopo’s Bakery on Brighton Aveune as a teenager.
“When Piscopo’s closed everyone was like, ‘Where do we go?’” Buck says. “I was working at Verizon at the time and thought about opening my own place, but didn’t. Then when the whole Fairpoint thing happened, I said if I don’t do it now I’ll never do it.”
So she and her husband, Mike, 38, who also worked for Verizon, quit their jobs, bought a house from a friend and set about turning it into a bakery.
Each day Buck and her team of family members create an ever-changing assortment of Italian pastries and American classics, including cookies, cupcakes, cannolis, eclairs and lobster tails. Buck also bakes cakes, including wedding cakes, and takes special orders.
In the few weeks the bakery has been open, these sweet treats have sold out almost every day.
“I really like feeding people,” Buck says. “I can’t be on the register, because I’d rather give it away.”
The business includes a wrap-around pastry counter, where the day’s delicacies are artfully displayed, and a cozy room with tables and two leather chairs facing a fireplace. The space has a retro feel and Buck says “Ikea has been my best friend.”
In addition to the confections, the bakery offers Coffee by Design java and bread from Sorella’s Bakehouse.
“Anything I don’t do here myself, I want it to come from Maine companies,” Buck says.
And when it comes to her hectic schedule, Buck says, “I’ll rest in January. When the holidays are over.”
— Avery Yale Kamila
Dollaro’s Bakery is located at 1249 Forest Ave., in Portland. It is open Tues.-Fri. 8 am-6 pm and Sat. 8 am-4 pm. FMI call 878-2200.