For Kayla Renee Lowery, baking started as a childhood memory — but it grew into a business, a passion and a place where community comes together. Long before she owned a bakery, Lowery was in the kitchen with her family, making simple recipes like box brownies and Christmas cookies. Some of her earliest memories were spent baking alongside her grandmother, watching cooking shows together and trying new recipes at home. Those moments sparked something deeper. 

By the time she was 14, Lowery had already turned her passion into a small business, creating custom cakes from home and earning her own money on weekends. What started as a hobby quickly became something more. 

“I realized early on that this is what I wanted to do,” she said.

As she considered her next steps, Lowery made a decision that would shape her future — she chose to stay close to home and attend Sandhills Community College. Through the Baking and Pastry Arts program, she gained not only technical skills, but also a deeper understanding of the business side of the industry. At Sandhills, she learned how to scale production while maintaining quality—something she now considers essential to her success.

“There’s a lot of magic behind making things in-house,” she said. “But you also have to learn how to do it efficiently and consistently.”One lesson, in particular, has stayed with her: “Work on your business, not in your business.”

That mindset became especially important when Lowery opened her first storefront at just 23 years old. Starting with a small 800-square-foot space, her business quickly grew. Within two years, she had outgrown the space and began searching for something bigger. What she found was an old building in downtown Raeford—one that needed nearly a year of renovations before it could open. Despite the challenges, Lowery saw potential. From exposed brick walls to carefully chosen vintage décor, she transformed the space into something uniquely her own—a warm, welcoming bakery filled with personality, creativity and a signature touch of pink.

“It’s cozy, it’s personal—it’s me,” she said. Today, her bakery offers something for everyone. From cookies and cupcakes to croissants, macarons and custom cakes, Lowery has built a menu that reflects both creativity and accessibility. She also introduced unique offerings like specialty drinks and rotating monthly menus, keeping the experience fresh for customers. But for Lowery, the bakery is about more than just what’s in the display case. It’s about community.From hosting local groups to creating spaces where people can gather, work and connect, she has intentionally built a business that brings people together. She even added a free book exchange inside the shop — another way to give back and create a sense of belonging. 

“Being part of the community has always been important to me,” she said. That sense of connection is rooted in her upbringing. As a member of the Lumbee Tribe and someone deeply connected to her family, Lowery always knew she wanted to return home and build something meaningful in her own community.

“Family is everything,” she said. “This was always where I wanted to be.”

Now, as her business continues to grow, Lowery is already thinking about what comes next — including expanding into a neighboring space to add a lounge and bookstore concept. Through it all, she remains focused on the same mindset that got her here: stay adaptable, work hard and keep moving forward. Her advice for others looking to follow a similar path is simple: “You don’t have to start big. Just start.”

Podcast content from an interview with Dr. Carlos McCormick, Director of Customized Training and Organizational Development At Sandhills Community College on its Mo.Ho.Co. Web page, intended to share economic business news and connections in Moore and Hoke counties.