It was a Wednesday afternoon, simply days earlier than the vacation weekend, and closing preparations have been being set for what the house owners of Spooky’s Swirls bakery in Chandler name “the most important day of the yr.”
This wasn’t Santa’s workshop and it wasn’t a countdown to Thanksgiving both. It was lower than per week earlier than Halloween, and Lola Forbes and Chris Szydlowski have been busy baking as many terrifyingly candy treats as would slot in the oven at their bakery and Horror and SciFi Prop Museum — extra on the candy and spooky mixture later.
Szydlowski opened the door carrying a t-shirt emblazoned with the brand of the traditional horror film “Carrie” (1976), and upbeat music poured out of the store the place Halloween decorations lined each floor and the mouthwatering aroma of cupcakes recent from the oven stuffed the shop.
Although the store is just open on weekends, forward of main holidays cooks and house owners Szydlowski and Forbes spend a complete week making ready baked items. “That’s what is making Halloween occur,” Forbes mentioned, pointing to a Swedish Fish flavored power drink can.
When making Christmas, Spooky’s leans closely into themes from “The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas” (1993). For Valentine’s Day, Forbes and Szydlowski incorporate well-known horror movie {couples} and flicks like “My Bloody Valentine” (1981), for individuals who get pleasure from somewhat little bit of fright with their romance.
Regardless of the ghoulish decor and goth sweets, Spooky’s Swirls bakery will not be Halloween unique. In actual fact, their busiest vacation season lasts from October via about Valentine’s Day, in keeping with Forbes, and the bakery and museum are open year-round from Friday to Sunday.
And along with horror aficionados, their greatest fan base is definitely the gluten-free neighborhood, particularly round Thanksgiving, when individuals load up on pumpkin rolls, pies, cinnamon rolls and Spooky’s all-purpose gluten-free flour.
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Not like many gluten-free cooks, Forbes and Szydlowski shouldn’t have Celiac Illness or gluten intolerance themselves. Forbes mentioned she started making her personal gluten-free recipes when she was the manager pastry chef at Kaleidoscope.
“I like science,” she mentioned. “I received a job the place I needed to begin making gluten-free stuff, and I used to be given zero recipes. And I constructed that into an enormous, profitable bakery. It was enjoyable as a result of I could not use recipes, I had to determine my very own.”
When Forbes teamed up with Szydlowski to open Spooky’s Swirls, the pair was keen to satisfy their neighborhood’s want for gluten-free meals that tasted simply nearly as good, if not higher, than the normal variations.
“We did a number of analysis. We did a number of style testing,” Szydlowski mentioned. “And I am very humble, however I’ve to say, a few of (the gluten-free meals) we tasted wasn’t actually all that.”
Earlier than the bakery put down its roots in Chandler in August 2019, Spooky’s Swirls operated as a meals truck for about two years. However Forbes mentioned enterprise shortly outgrew the truck, and the necessity for a brick-and-mortar retailer and kitchen turned more and more obvious.
And with a brick-and-mortar got here a singular alternative to deliver collectively two very totally different passions.
A haven for horror film historical past
Horror followers can largely thank Szydlowski and buddy James Azrael of the Horror and SciFi Prop Preservation Association for the refuge that’s Spooky’s Swirls Museum. The HSPPA is a nonprofit run by Azrael, Szydlowski and their buddy Craig Champion with the objective of preserving, restoring and displaying iconic items of movie historical past.
Szydlowski turned focused on gathering film props when she was a baby, and mentioned that a lot of what’s on show in Spooky’s Swirls comes from her personal private assortment. The concept to open a horror museum inside the bakery happened when she met Azrael.
“Again once we have been meals trucking, he noticed the cupcakes and mentioned, ‘You realize what, I’ve this concept. It might be the craziest factor, however I desire a museum. You guys desire a bakery, brick and mortar. Let’s perhaps put these two concepts collectively and see what occurs,'” Szydlowski mentioned.
The museum is totally free to view, however guests are welcome to depart a donation. Because of donations, Spooky’s Swirls has been in a position to protect and restore a number of costumes and props from beloved scary motion pictures. Most just lately, a burlap sack used for the character Sam’s head within the film “Trick ‘r Deal with” (2007) was despatched to a design studio in New York the place it was stuffed and a bust was created in order that the character might be added to the museum for show.
“That is one thing that we’re fairly happy with, that we have been ready to do this… due to our clients and donations,” Szydlowski mentioned.
Their first a number of months of enterprise have been busy, Forbes mentioned, particularly with in-store signings from celebrities like Paul Taylor from the movie “Hellraiser” (1987) and Tamara Glynn from “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” (1989). However like many different native companies, Spooky’s Swirls bakery struggled to remain afloat throughout the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bakery closed down fully for a short while in 2020, after which reopened to supply solely curbside service.
“The gluten free crowd actually received us via the pandemic,” Szydlowski mentioned.
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Spooky’s Swirls is understood for its themed cupcakes, most notably the strawberry Suspiria, purple velvet with “scream cheese” and the Binx chocolate mousse in addition to their tender chocolate chip monster cookies. Pumpkin rolls and cinnamon buns are standard seasonal choices. And Forbes is happy with the truth that they spend no cash on advertising, as a substitute, she and Szydlowski owe a lot of their enterprise to word-of-mouth suggestions from gluten-free clients and horror followers alike.
“Gluten free individuals speak greater than nearly every other neighborhood that I’ve ever been in,” Forbes mentioned. “I nearly favor it that means. I haven’t got to inform individuals how good the cupcakes are, they only go inform one another.”
Spooky’s Swirls obtained nationwide consideration just lately when Forbes appeared on Meals Community’s “Halloween Baking Championship” in September. She mentioned she suspects that the amount of consumers has elevated since her TV look.
However whereas there may be enjoyable available in making TV judges cringe at terrifying toenail formed desserts, Forbes mentioned she prefers to bake for the Valley residents that make her exhausting work at Spooky’s Swirls price it.
“I went to Meals Community as a result of I believed that was going to make my desires come true,” Forbes mentioned. “However I did not must go to Meals Community. I really feel like Dorothy, you realize. I went away to go do the massive factor, however all I needed to do was click on my heels I used to be proper right here the entire time.”
Spooky’s Swirls Gluten Free Bakery is open each Friday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to three p.m. and plenty of desserts can be found for pre-order on-line.
Particulars: 3029 N. Alma Faculty Street, Suite 117, Chandler. 707-776-6597. https://www.spookysswirls.com.
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Attain the reporter at endia.fontanez@gannett.com. Comply with @EndiaFontanez on Twitter.
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