Moorestown is trading in a Starbucks for something a little bit sweeter. Accomplished baker Zena Demirceviren is bringing her delicious treats to a brick and mortar called By Zena to the neighborhood, reports local media outlet Courier Post.
Demirceviren will be opening her European specialty bakery at 41 Main Street, a location that previously housed a Starbucks. The building will allow customers to enjoy their treats either indoors or al fresco. Demirceviren, a Turkey native with 25 years of pastry chef experience, tells What Now Philadelphia that the new shop has been a long time in the making. “I live in Moorestown and I’ve been looking for a location here for a long time. This location became available so I took it.”
Demirceviren is re-entering the bakery industry after taking a sabbatical in 2013 to have her daughter. She returned to baking in 2018, and her distinctive cheesecakes and delectable recipes have earned her more fans and customers than she can service as a cottage baker. She explains: “I’ve been doing it from my home since 2019 and it’s gotten to the point where I cannot answer all the orders from home anymore-it’s gotten too much.”
Moorestown residents can look forward to enjoying a wide range of treats and beverages in a welcoming setting once By Zena opens its doors. Demirceviren describes her vision as: “It is going to be a bakery/cafe setting. We’re going to offer a lot of drinks, pastries, dessert, and also savory items. We are still finalizing the menu. I have a dessert menu for now.”
Demirceviren is putting considerable care into every aspect of the business, including the java. “I’m interviewing a lot of roasters to find which roaster could offer us the best coffee for our own blend.
While By Zena will offer something for every taste, new customers may want to cut their teeth on Demirceviren’s cheesecakes. She states: “My cheesecakes are all specialty items, they’re not like what you can find on the market. They’re different flavors-I have my signature items, like baklava cheesecake, pistachio, rose, these are very popular items.”
Demirceviren will even have options for those with dietary restrictions. She says: “My gluten-free items are really light and very nice-you wouldn’t even know they’re gluten-free. I do a lot of gluten-free baking because both me and my daughter are gluten-intolerant.”
Demirceviren and crew are waiting for the restoration company to complete the building so they can implement their own designs. She explains that she is currently working with architects and engineers, with plans to submit their drawings to the township next week. She is shooting for a September opening.
Demirceviren is enthusiastic about getting back in the kitchen and bringing Moorestown all of her amazing concoctions. She states: “I’m very excited; I’m looking forward to opening this location. It’s been a long time for me since I’ve been in a brick and mortar location (since 2013) so I’m very excited.”
