Late-night dessert bar opens in downtown Wilmington

Lauren Wright and Keala Yu say they bonded over pie crust while they were both working at Salt & Charm in Wilmington. They spent a lot of time creating their signature crust, inspired by Yu’s buttermilk-based recipe. Their Pie Slayer pop-up and wholesale started a year and a half ago and the pair have been using the commercial kitchen space in the manna complex. Soon after, they began talking to owner Billy Mellon about opening a storefront at 129 Princess St.

One thing they wanted was to add to what’s available during the post-dinner hours downtown. Now, they officially opened their late-night dessert bar on June 22. Here’s a look at what to expect.

The look

It’s goth and a little girly, Wright said. They asked a friend and designer to create their pie-and-dagger logo. The vibe at the bakery is a lot of black with pops of pink and bright color. The bakery has counter service, with a couple of indoor tables and bar seating at the window. They’re also looking to add some sidewalk cafe tables.

In the case

Wright and Yu will likely keep a couple of their signature desserts stocked at the bakery. That includes the Banana Stranger pie and the Yuzu Lemon Meringue. As they held a soft-opening event, you could also find their Hand Jams filled with sweet and savory fillings, Slayer Cookies and their take on the marshmallow treat that they call the Pie Crispy. For Sunday brunch, they’ll be serving scones, quiche and piecrust danishes.

Extras and what’s ahead

The bar part of the dessert bar will include beers and wines (by the bottle and the glass), and non-alcoholic beverages and coffees. One shelf at the bakery is stocked with hot-pink French presses for coffee service. Looking ahead, they’ll be offering a rotating selection of desserts, as well as adding to the dishes available, which could include something pizza inspired.

“Basically, we'll try anything you can make out of pie crust,” Yu said.

Hours

To start, they plan to be open 3-10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays and Saturdays, they’ll be open later, until midnight. They’ll have daytime hours for Sunday brunch.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Pie Slayer dessert bar opening in Wilmington, NC