Aiken's Southside will gain a bakery, coffee and tea bar this fall when La Dolce Cafe moves to its new location.
The cafe owners announced in May that the new store will open in September. The downtown business will close June 27.
With this move, La Dolce's owners, Kelly MacVean and Kirstie Wohlfeil, said this will offer an expansion in seating, as well as the gourmet bakery, tea service and menu offerings.
"We will be expanding our baked goods, bread offerings and our late lunches and breakfasts," said MacVean. "With our baked goods, we want to expand our bread lines and work with local restaurants."
"We are extremely pleased with our new location," she added. "Our cafe will be housed in a lovely cottage with French doors, long windows and a separate tea room. The property also will feature a lovely deck for outdoor seating under a live oak tree and garden-style landscaping."
The new La Dolce location was asked to be kept secret by MacVean. But, she did offer one clue - the road on which the new business will be located has to do with cooking.
"It is being renovated, so we don't want to give the exact address yet," MacVean said.
As of now, MacVean and Wohlfeil said the hours of the cafe will remain the same.
MacVean added the new setting "will provide a tea experience representative of traditional teas in England."
The cafe will still serve breakfast throughout the day at its new location and lunch, gourmet-baked items and specialty teas and coffees. The cafe will continue to cater special events such as weddings, receptions and corporate breakfast and lunches, as well.
La Dolce first opened its doors downtown in 2012, and the certification of MacVean as a Tea Master attracted customers instantly, she said.
MacVean said it's an educational relationship with the customers, and there is always something to learn.
"The concept of tea service ... created an eatery unlike any other in the area," said MacVean, adding near the end of 2014 was the time both realized it was time to do something bigger with the business.
"Downtown has its pluses and minuses," said MacVean. "Laurens Street is a great place ... for the most part, other businesses have been really supportive to us."
"Aikenites feel it is difficult to get downtown," said MacVean. "Parking is a problem, and we want to be in a place that is more convenient for the Aiken people."
MacVean added La Dolce has "fabulous loyal customers."
La Dolce is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is located in downtown Aiken at 173 Laurens Street N.W.
Will Whaley is the crime and court reporter for the Aiken Standard.