Stacy's Gluten Free Goodies owner Stacy Riffel. Credit: Courtesy of Stacy's Gluten Free Goodies

Stacy’s Gluten Free Goodies owner Stacy Riffel. Credit: Courtesy of Stacy's Gluten Free Goodies

UPDATE: The South Tampa location for Stacy's Gluten Free Goodies opened its doors Saturday, June 24.

Stacy Riffel has gained a loyal following for her baked goods over the past six years. Many in the Tampa area know her as the mastermind behind Stacy's Gluten Free Goodies, the gluten-free, allergen-free and vegan bakery that's given new meaning to the idea that no butter + no egg + no gluten = no good. And she's got some good news for her fans.

After receiving numerous requests, Riffel has decided to expand her Carrollwood bakeshop (which originally started in New Tampa) with another location. The 800-square-foot outpost, opening at 5130 S. Dale Mabry Highway, aims to cater to South Tampa, but it's also more accessible to St. Petersburg and Brandon folks.

As an extension of the successful flagship, where she'll continue to bake everything in-house to supply both stores, the new Stacy's Gluten Free Goodies is set to serve up the same daily offerings — including favorites like snickerdoodle cookies, pumpkin muffins and no-sugar-added treats — as well as prepackaged organic sodas, juices and coffee.

Alongside cakes, cookies, muffins and cupcakes, Stacy’s whips up goodies like doughnuts. Credit: Courtesy of Stacy's Gluten Free Goodies
Those who've visited Riffel for her goodies likely know the bakery's backstory. It began with her son, who at 2 years old started demonstrating developmental delays that resembled autism. His symptoms were a mystery until a doctor suggested he be tested for allergies. That test revealed he had gluten, egg and dairy allergies, which sent Mom on a mission to find baked goods he'd be able to enjoy.

"I started doing stuff out of my house," Riffel said. "Then I started going to farmers' markets to see how people liked my samples. That helped tremendously. I saw there was a need for these products, and I got validation that this wasn't just a little hobby and that I could turn this into something great."

Something great is exactly what happens when she uses flaxseed meal instead of eggs, replaces dairy milk with rice milk, and even finds ways to substitute corn and garbanzo products. Riffel has a solution for almost every allergy, and her customers obviously approve, having asked time and time again for a location that's closer to residents on Tampa's south side.

For first-timers, Riffel recommends trying one of her blueberry crumb muffins, or the gingersnap cream cookie — a moist cookie sandwich full of whipped vanilla frosting. But the goodies don't stop there, as the second bakeshop will also showcase pancakes by the dozen, pizza crust and house-made soups like minestrone, potato-corn chowder and sweet potato lentil and kale.

The South Tampa bakeshop hopes to open June 28, with plans of operating Wednesday through Sunday. A grand opening celebration, featuring a 20-percent discount, samples and an area where the little ones can decorate their own cookies, will follow shortly thereafter in August.

This article appears in Jun 29 – Jul 7, 2017.