Newfield looks forward to Louella’s Space

Since purchasing the former Stella’s Barn building in July, Amy Gaines Scholl said she’s had a couple of visitors a week. People stop by to welcome her to Newfield and ask about Louella’s Space, her new business.

“I want to thank everyone for being so welcoming,” Scholl said. “I’m a very social person, and I love showing off what we’ve done so far.”

A baker and pastry chef by trade, Scholl founded her first business, DarlingCake, in 2007. Wanting to expand the bakery and cake decorating capacity, she was in need of a larger kitchen when Stella’s came on the market.

“When I walked in, I instantly knew that I’d found my place,” Scholl said. “Terry [Ferrara] was so great, and I felt a real connection to the space. It was perfect.”

Even so, renovations were needed to match the vision Scholl had in mind. Her idea was to rent out the front of the building to help pay for the commercial kitchen she needed for her bakery. She set about transforming the interior from Stella’s rustic, country charm to a high-end event center with a modern look and feel.

“It is really unrecognizable,” Scholl said of the dining room and bar area. “Everything is bright white, kind of a blank canvas which can be taken in many different directions, like an art gallery.”

In the short term, Scholl envisions Louella’s Space holding intimate weddings and parties of all kinds. She is looking for clients who want to host special gatherings for smaller groups, rather than big, impersonal bashes.

“I feel like that is where things are heading post-COVID,” Scholl said. “We’ve learned how important the people closest to us are. We’re going to want to concentrate on and spoil them instead of spend a lot on acquaintances we barely know.”

When complete, Louella’s Space will accommodate groups of up to 100 inside. The patio will add to that when the weather allows. A private space where brides can dress or hosts can secure personal belongings will also be available. Scholl plans to build a platform on the hillside above the building for outdoor ceremonies with a view.

Scholl said she is developing a list of preferred caterers for clients to choose from, depending on their needs and budget. Caterers will have full use of the kitchen but must provide their own liquor license, as she does not yet have one.

“There are a lot of great caterers in the area, and DarlingCake has worked with most of them,” Scholl said. “I’d love to be in touch with anyone who would like to be included on that list.”

In addition to renting out the space, Scholl also has plans to host some events of her own.

“I’m thinking Mother’s Day brunches, adult Halloween parties, classy New Year’s Eve celebrations,” Scholl said. “I had hoped to hold a gingerbread decorating party with Santa, but that will have to wait for next year.”

Scholl is open to other possibilities in the long term, including a Monday-through-Friday bar and bringing back live music to the patio.

“I don’t believe in putting limits on my dreams,” Scholl said. “When I first started DarlingCake as a single mom, I couldn’t have imagined that I’d be where I am today. Owning my own building and being my own boss was beyond my wildest dreams.”

The grand opening and ribbon cutting planned for early December will also be postponed due to recently tightened COVID restrictions. Though the event will be delayed, it doesn’t mean that Scholl will be idle or that her business will be on hold.

“DarlingCake is my first baby, and it is the reason I bought this building,” School said, referring to her bakery business. “The rest of my plans are extras, and they will happen when it is safe and the time is right.”

In the meantime, she is baking up a storm. For Thanksgiving, Scholl sold over 80 cheesecakes with part of the proceeds going to gifts for kids through the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. She’ll be busy with holiday cakes and cookies through December. And there are always birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries — you name it, and she’s designed a custom cake for it. (Check out her portfolio at darlingcake.com.)

“Every time someone comes to pick up an order, they have to walk through the dining room,” Scholl said. “Sometimes it sparks an idea that I didn’t even think of. Recently, a photographer asked if she could use the space for a photo shoot. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities.”

Being a one-woman show is not sustainable, and Scholl acknowledges that she will soon need to hire staff. When the long days and stress of launching a new venture while running an existing business recently took a toll on her health, family members pitched in to pick up the slack.

“Family is the most important thing to me,” Scholl said. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”

In fact, the name Louella’s Space is a constant reminder of the love and support of her family.

“Louella was my great-grandmother, and she is my guardian angel,” Scholl said. “Putting her name on the sign is like wrapping the entire space in a big hug.”