There’s a new place in Pelham to satisfy a sweet tooth. Dulce Treats, a bakery recently opened by Alejandra Flores, is now welcoming customers at 321 Fifth Avenue. While the storefront itself is new, the story behind Dulce Treats began years before the doors opened.
Flores began her journey while working alongside Patty Lambrou Kalognomas, the founder of Patty Pops, a shop that previously occupied the same location. “I have never lived in Pelham, but I started working at Patty Pops shortly after COVID,” Flores said in an interview. As her time with Patty Pops went on, Flores immersed herself in the business, with Lambrou Kalognomas serving as both a mentor and an inspiration, teaching her not only baking techniques, but the art of designing cake pops.
When Lambrou Kalognomas decided to close Patty Pops last August, she encouraged Flores to carry on the legacy of the space.
“We developed a close working relationship, and that has continued even after I’ve opened Dulce Treats,” Flores said. Lambrou Kalognomas has stopped by the bakery multiple times to check in on the new business.
Flores still utilizes the same cake pop recipe that she and her mentor developed together. Since opening Dulce Treats, Flores says she enjoys running a business but admits that it can be scary at times to be fully on her own. Prior to the closure of Patty Pops, orders were limited to online purchases only, but Flores chose to bring back the storefront experience to connect with customers face-to-face.
Flores began her cooking career at Café Metro in New York City, now known as Fresh and Co, where she worked for five years before coming to Pelham. More recently, she set up a table at the local Winter Wonderland. Despite the cold weather, Flores described the experience as “great, as well as a valuable way to meet new customers and introduce them to Dulce Treats.”
While she has continued making the signature cake pops, Flores has expanded the menu of Dulce Treats to include cakes, cookies, chocolate-covered Oreos, cheesecake, flan and tiramisu. According to Flores, customer favorites so far have been the cheesecake and tiramisu. Additionally, Flores noted that the bakery has a stable of weekly customers who come in for cheesecake, tiramisu or flan. Alongside chocolate and vanilla cake pops, Flores also creates seasonal treats, including snowmen and Christmas-themed cake pops during the holidays.
Currently, Dulce Treats focuses on custom orders and walk-in customers looking for a quick sweet bite. However, Flores is already looking ahead, exploring the possibility of hosting birthday parties in the future, similar to what Lambrou Kalognomas once offered. With a growing customer base and strong community roots, Flores’ Dulce Treats is continuing a legacy while creating a new one of its own.
