Amazing Ackee, the vegan Jamaican patty bakery that has built up a loyal following for years at Capitol Region farmers markets, is opening a brick-and-mortar store at 80 Poquonock Ave. in Windsor. The store will sell patties in a variety of flavors, coco bread and more.
The soft opening of the grab-and-go Likkle Patty Shop is Wednesday, Nov. 23, from noon to 4 p.m. The shop will take Thanksgiving Day off, then reopen on Black Friday. From that point, the hours will be Wednesday to Friday noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We may add hours later to fit consumer demand, but we want to wait to see how it goes. It’s easier to add hours than to subtract them,” founder Chantal Thomas said.
Thomas founded Amazing Ackee in 2018. She has been working on opening the shop since last December. She had hoped to open sooner, but in March a car crashed into the vacant space that she was planning to occupy.
“It happened on the day I was supposed to get the keys. It took a long time to fix the damage. It was completed in August,” Thomas said. “We were able to get back in in September, but contractors have been super busy since COVID so it took a while for the electrician and plumber.”
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Thomas has 10 core flavors of patties: Amazing Ackee, Jerk Spice Eggplant, Curry Chickpea Zucchini, Lovely Lentil, Oh My Cauli, Spicy Squash, Super Spinach, Baby Got Broc, Sweet Beets and Calypso, which is caramelized turnip, kale, corn and tomato.
At the shop, she will sell her patties — in a rotating menu of flavors — and coco bread. Thomas said starting on Wednesday, she also will sell food from Hartford-based food entrepreneurs, including Rasta Pasta made by GiGi Lawrence’s The RastaRant Experience and Yum-us Hummus by Anahid Khachoyan.
Eventually, the shop will sell plant-based pizzas, sandwiches and sweets, as well as new seasonal varieties of patties.
“I want the opportunity to play around the flavors. I want to keep it fun and keep myself and my assistants sane,” Thomas said. “We may introduce things like an apple pie patty or use some vegetables that come when summer comes in.”
Thomas’ cooking facility is at Hilliard Mills in Manchester.
Thomas will still make the rounds of farmers markets. She will participate in Small Shop Saturday on Nov. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nathan Hale School, 160 Spruce St. in Manchester, and at some of the winter farmers markets at Ellington and Coventry high schools.
Susan Dunne can be reached at [email protected].
