A gluten-free bakery is relocating to the Main Line this February, opening a walk-in storefront.
Flakely Gluten Free, owned by Chef Lila Colello, is moving from 220 Krams Ave. in Manayunk to 1007 Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr.
“We’re so excited to be able to be a part of the Main Line community, where I’m from. It’s like a homecoming for me,” Chef Colello told What Now Philadelphia.
Chef Colello has worked with Wolfgang Puck, The Food Network and several acclaimed restaurants across the country. After being diagnosed with celiac disease and unable to work with traditional flour, she set out to create French pastries tasting like the wheat-based originals.
The current Manayunk location, open for nearly five years, serves as a production kitchen. Colello added a takeout window on the side of the building to serve the community once Flakely built a following.
“When I started an Instagram back in 2020 or 2021, I started getting a lot of traction from people who are also gluten-free, saying, ‘Where can I get this? How can we access you?’ I was like, ‘I’ve got to do something to allow access,’” she said.
Flakely currently only serves frozen pastries to customers on the go through its takeout window.
“Our model is frozen. We bake everything off every single day, freeze it when it’s cooled, and sell it frozen for everyone to heat up at home. That’s always been the way we do it and be a zero-waste bakery at the same time,” Chef Colello said.
With the new Main Line location, Flakely will be operating a slightly different system, still offering the same frozen staples while adding warm options.
“We’re going to do both. We’ll definitely have a large selection of fresh items that we’re really excited for–fresh gluten-free croissants. It’s definitely something that is sought after. I think having a fresh experience from our oven to their mouth is going to be an exciting new thing to bring to this area,” Chef Colello said.
She continued, “The way the space is set up, it’s best to come in, grab your stuff and leave with your fresh items.”
Once settled in the new location, Flakely will also host a slew of events.
“We’re also really excited to have this space, where we can eventually offer baking classes in the space, and pop-up events like pop-up dinners and collaborations with other chefs that could come in and bake or cook in our kitchen, and offer different items that you don’t really see on the Main Line,” she said.
Chef Colello aims to relocate and open Flakely Gluten Free by mid-to late February. Visit the website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
