LI Resident Moves New Bakery To Bayport

BAYPORT, NY — It's been a busy year for 26-year-old Stephanie Cocozzelli. In addition to selling one business and opening another in the same month, the Selden resident had her second baby in March and got married in September — all during a global pandemic.

"I guess you can say that I always have a lot going on," she told Patch.

Cocozzelli first opened The Sweet Escape Bakery in Holtsville, but moved to a new store on 771 Montauk Highway in Bayport last week. She has been working in the deli/catering business since 2007.

In 2017, she bought her father's deli, The Waverly Deli, and started the bakery inside the deli called The Sweet Escape Bakery. She has always hoped one day to open a separate location for the bakery, but never found a perfect location — until now. The same week she opened her bakery, she also sold the deli.

"I've always knew I wanted to be a business owner from a very young age, even though it’s exhausting and stressful at times, I was built to run my own business and I truly have a passion for baking," she told Patch. I just had my second baby in March, got married in September, sold my deli in November and moved my bakery in November. I guess you can say that I always have a lot going on!"

Cocozzelli opened the business with the support of her husband, who is her business partner at the bakery, as well as her friends and family.

"Whether it was my dad building the store to my mom, aunts, uncles and friends coming and helping me in the kitchen or at the front counter," she said. "I’m so grateful to have such a supportive group of people behind me."

In the beginning of the pandemic, Cocozelli was forced to get creative with her business. At the deli, she ran a lot of different bakery specials to try and stay afloat. She also started delivering, which she said has helped tremendously.

Now she's putting her focus on her new business, which she describes as an American Style bakery specializing in French macarons, cupcakes, cookies, donuts, breads and cakes. While the eatery just opened, Cocozelli said she already received support from the Bayport community.

"I've heard nothing but amazing things about the town of Bayport," she said. "The town supports small businesses and I knew this was the town I wanted to be in, before signing my lease. I heard from quite a few people that this town needed a good bakery."

In the next year, she hopes to eventually teach baking classes.