Little Peanut Bakeshop, a welcomed addition to West Ashley’s food scene
by Christine England | Contributing Writer
More than a decade ago, when DaVee Keesee was graduating high school, she found herself in that poignant moment many have dreaded. Where are you applying for college and what are you going to major in? Lucky for the Lowcountry, she knew she had an affinity towards making food for others. So applying to Johnson & Wales in Charlotte seemed like a reasonable idea. As her education unfolded, she found her true passion in baking.
Many culinary school graduates have grandiose plans for their future endeavors hoping for their own restaurant, Michelin stars, and more. Keesee says that was never in her plan. She never even thought about opening her own place.
“I would have 100 percent said ‘no thank you.’ That’s a huge amount of work, money and risk!” she says. Over time, with experience and some newfound confidence, the idea of owning her own shop became more appealing. Through encouragement from her now husband, Keesee struck out on her own in November 2020 as Little Peanut Pastries working from a small, shared commercial kitchen off Rivers Avenue in North Charleston.
From pop-ups to custom cake orders to holiday trays, Little Peanut Pastries quickly grew into collaborating with various restaurants, coffee shops, and cafes as their wholesale pastry provider in 2021. While quickly growing to 17 full-time wholesale clients, Keesee promptly saw the need for her own space. For almost a year she kept her eyes peeled for the perfect spot that would allow her to accommodate both wholesale and retail. With the local F&B community being so tight-knit, she learned that the owners of the former West Ashley bakery, St. Honoré Pastry, were closing their doors.
“It made the transition into our own space a lot easier because then we had almost all the equipment we needed. I was also very excited about the location because there are so many neighborhoods in the area,” says Keesee. Little Peanut Bake Shop is located at 2408 Ashley River Road in the Pierpont Crossing Shopping Center, next to Betty Lou’s Bistro.
Keesee says her goal was to create a space that was warm, welcoming, bright, and fun. That it is. With the help of her family painting and some minor design changes, Little Peanut Bake Shop now includes a countertop area with seats for those who want to snack and stay.
“I hope customers experience joy when they come in,” says Keessee. The smells alone give you the feeling you are at someone’s Grandma’s house who has been baking all day.
“Our pop-tarts are definitely one of our biggest sellers along with our chocolate chip cookies, which I think are the best chocolate chip cookies around,” says Keesee.
In the glass case, you will find items like her ever-popular pop-tarts, cookies, scones, and savory items like focaccia. There is even a gluten-free oat bar. Having only been open a couple of months, it makes Keesee happy to already see return customers in such a short time.
“We have had several people express their excitement about us joining the community, and it melts my heart every time,” she says.
Looking back now, Keesee will tell you that it all seems surreal owning her own bake shop. If you asked her a decade ago, this path was the one least expected. In all the hurdles of opening a restaurant, Keesee is the first to admit that having a team she can rely on has allowed for this growth. With support, and even some elbow grease, from her husband and parents, she’s excited for Little Peanut Bake Shop to be a part of the West Ashley community. Planned or not, this was clearly a path that was destined for her.
