Hopscotch Bakery + Market: Year 3

Hello Hopscotchers!

Thank you so much for choosing Hopscotch during quarantine times. It really means so much to us as a small family owned business to be a part of such important events in peoples lives. 

On March 16th the state (world?) was brought to a screeching halt and our doors were forced closed. Kelly texted me that night and said, “Do you think we’ll have to close?” It was a scary thought. Year 3 in a small food business is still not lucrative and no one knew what to expect. We quickly pivoted overnight (legitimately, building a website until nearly 4 in the morning) and changed over to a grocery model selling eggs, butter, milk, flour and the ever important yeast! We have done pre-sales for Easter, Mothers Day and #BakersAgainstRacism and have succeeded in getting our business to phase 4. Our original goal!

Phase 4 looks a little different than we expected. It isn't the clean opening we all thought would happen one day. We didn't magically hire everyone back or even go back to our same hours. In fact, from our perspective, phase 4 looks almost exactly like phase 1 in our business model. 

We have decided to change our shop to meet what we believe are the new demands of a corner store + bakery. Introducing Hopscotch Bakery + MARKET!

And with that change came more changes- we have decided to forego wedding planning and large cake orders. With our now "full" staff of 6 people (we normally have about 15), something's gotta give. We will still be providing desserts as we always have, but our process will be different. All orders will come in through our same online ordering system with the same restrictions for every event. We will no longer offer tastings- but we now have a standard cupcake menu to choose from which we offer everyday. 

We will now offer new and rotating items that we all use and need at a price point that makes sense. Dishwashing detergent, toothpaste, tortilla chips, milk, eggs, cheese, fresh breads, fresh vegetables, herbs and spices. and MORE!

While many may think of these as our new quarantine items- we have actually always carried some variety of eggs, milk, butter, chocolate etc. Now we are amping it up. Bulk Style. We will also be expanding our lunch menu and everyday specials. Our croissants are here to stay! Teresa has been KILLING the croissant game lately- and we don’t know of another place in town making handmade sourdough croissants in-house. This is truly a treat, guys. We have been working on making this a reality for literally YEARS.

We can’t wait to slowly unveil new special items everyday on our social media pages! If you’re looking for us to stock something you would regularly buy- please let us know! We offer daily $7 lunch specials and drink specials for $2- we use from-scratch ingredients- this is a DEAL.

We have changed the displays and items to be less gifts- although still available- and more usable everyday items. We will be changing our website for faster and easier ordering in the future along with photos and descriptors. As this change has unfolded we really cannot express how much sense we feel it makes in our world right now. We feel refreshed for our third (3!!) year being in this location and cannot wait to see what the future brings us.

If you choose to place your order through us still when the time comes, we will be forever grateful. We understand that the world has changed and we expect to stay flexible to meet what is thrown at us. 

Looking for seating? We have two small tables out front and two large picnic tables out back for everyday use.

Thank you for believing in the little shop on the corner. <3

Oof. What a year this month has been.

Hello Hopscotchers!

Nothing like a pandemic to make you realize how much you love your community, amiright? We’ve been closed for dine-in for a month. Your continued support during this last month has been overwhelming - there have been many days where I have literally choked back tears at your kind words in person or on the orders that come through our system.

During the last month, we’ve changed. We have slimmed down our menu, added bulk items to our ordering system and added a few more ‘meal’ items to help you and your family avoid the grocery store. We know you have changed too - life will never be the same again, we know that our world is going to get smaller and local will reign.

Our commitment s to you - as it always has been. We cant wait to see you all again. <3

LOVE, Kaya + Kelly

Winter Fancy Drink Menu!

We are SO CLOSE to breaking free from this dreary, cold weather. I personally am ecstatic - I know, however, there are plenty of people that dread the summer the way I dread the month of February. But until we summer-babies can go back to guzzling cold brew by the gallons, I am savoring our latest Fancy Drink Menu. Three deliciously warm drinks to cozy up with and one with just a hint of cayenne!

COLD SNAP - orange, grapefruit, ginger, turmeric, cayenne (served cold)

WINTER WARMER - apple, lemon, cloves, honey, anise, cinnamon

DAYBREAK - oat-milk, espresso, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, cocoa

BETTER THAN BULLETPROOF - steamed milk, espresso, coconut oil, maca, maple, cocoa

Valentine's Day is just around the corner!

Hello, lovebirds!

What if Cupid worked like Santa? Would he deliver chocolates out of his quiver the way Saint Nic brings gifts in his sleigh? 🤔

Since Cupid hasn’t confirmed his plans with us, we will have all the things you need to make sure your lovies know they are loved! Along with our regular items, we will have Moonstruck chocolates, valentines cards and gifts! ❤️

Special order cut off is the 11th and we will not be accepting orders again until the 17th - we will have cakes in the case, as always!

Happy Valentines Day! 💕

MEET THE MAKER: Oh Ok

Madelyn is a rockstar - she’s really got it all as a designer! She will be popping up with us this Saturday from 12-5!

You have quite a bit of experience as a graphic designer and muralist. Tell us how The Oh, Ok shop came out of that.

Although I have been making things and selling them for a while, the OH, OK shop is my first real venture to sell my stuff just for me. It's an outlet for me to try out new things and focus on things that I wouldn’t necessarily get the chance to in my normal everyday work. For example, earrings are something that don’t really have a place in my everyday life, but now with the OH, OK shop I have the chance to continue to make and sell them. 

Tell us about your design process.

When it comes to the things that I make for the OH, OK shop, I tend to become inspired at odd times and just kind of go for it. I’ll see a building with weird windows, fabrics with beautiful patterns, furniture with smooth contours and I will want to make something. I don’t let myself get bogged down by my “normal process” as much because I want what I am making to feel genuinely me. Sometimes when I do too much research I can catch myself making things that look more like other peoples work than my own. We should be inspired by other artists and designers but not copy them.

Why do you feel good design should be apart of people's everyday lives?

I have a lot of feelings about how we as humans decide what should be in our lives and what shouldn’t. I personally think that everything that someone owns should either serve a purpose or be beautiful. When something is well designed, it can accomplish both of those things.

What is your favorite goodie at the shop?

Hopscotch has one of my favorite environments in CU. I love how bright it always is, the incredibly curated market, and of course all of the different delicious pastries and food choices that are there. I have so many things that I like there, but one thing that I always have to buy if they are still available when I walk in are the cinnamon rolls. They are the best!

MEET THE MAKER: Gem & Blue

Gem & Blue will be popping-up at the shop this Sunday from 10-2. Learn more about Krista before she is in shop! <3

You’re new to the area! How’d you land in CU?

We moved to Champaign over a year ago from Denver CO for my husband to attend law school at the university. Our family has gotten to love the area and made many new friends thus far. It's been great discovering the local businesses and restaurants.

What is your take on our creative community?

Since creativity is such a big part of my work, I wasn't sure what to expect upon moving to Champaign, I was however delightfully surprised by the large creative community here. I was lucky enough to get plugged into a small group of female small business owners and have slowly been discovering all of the nearby treasures. It's nice to see businesses that both carry and help to promote local artists and it seems like that's very important to the community.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Our family has a wonderful holiday tradition of tree cutting every year. The day after Thanksgiving we head to the mountains with friends to select and cut a Christmas tree. We've been doing it for the past three years with our twin daughters (8) and it has easily become our favorite post-thanksgiving activity.

What is your favorite goodie at the shop?

I have so many favorite treats that I like to get at Hopscotch. I think the two I'm obsessed with (besides the coffee) are the macaroons and the homemade marshmallows...but I literally want to eat everything I see posted on Instagram!

And now we are Moms...

When we opened the brick + morter, we never envisioned our future with two little boys on our hips. Or daydreamed about their laughter filling the back of the shop while Kaya bakes and I tip-tap-type away on the computer. We never ever thought that we would have little boys 5 months apart…

Hopscotch has been our baby for so long, watching her grow and evolve has been all-consuming and powerful. And now we are entering a new season of Hopscotch, the same values but filled with a little bit more love. Thank you all for your patience with us during these tender times, we are continuously in awe of your love and support.

Kaya + Kelly

MEET THE MAKER: Dreaming of Johnny

Sophie, the woman behind Dreaming of Johnny, is a dreamboat. She will be with us on Small Business Saturday from2:30-5:30! <3

Tell us about Dreaming of Johnny and the ‘softer side of creepy’.

Dreaming of Johnny is the name of my brand. I used to go by “You Were Swell” but I had a change of heart in what I was creating and decided to start fresh. I’m hugely inspired by teen culture of the 50’s and 60’s, and there are so many “Johnny’s” mentioned in love songs by girl groups. I wanted to capture that classic pining for a dream boy vibe in much of my work and products.

I love the images from that era, I get a lot of inspiration for my work from vintage magazines and movies. Everyone looks so peachy keen and happy. I also have a great love for darker things - I’m a huge horror lover and am very drawn to the grotesque. I like to combine my love for sweet and pure culture that was portrayed back then, and slightly distort it or shift it and hint at the darkness that lies beneath the idealist imagery. I also love all of the classic Universal monsters, and often incorporate them into my work. But I like to soften the monsters and show their tender sides. I like to sweeten dark things, and add darkness to sweet things.

Although you are nationally known, why is it important to you as a maker to shop local???

I think it is tremendously important to shop locally and support local businesses and makers. It’s great for our local economy, but more importantly it helps to strengthen our community. I was born and raised in Urbana, and I feel so lucky to live here as an adult too. I absolutely love living here, and am thankful for the strong sense of community. There are so many fabulous local businesses and makers in CU, and I want them all to continue to thrive and prosper here.

Who are your fur-babies?!

We are very proud parents to 6 purrfect kitties! There’s Mikey, Diablo, Lemmy, Starla, Billie Jean and Rocky! Mikey is my first baby, I got him in 2010! He’s a beautiful and stoic fluffball. Onto the next - in 2013 I found a tiny black cat hanging from my fence by his leg(poor thing) - this is Diablo! He’s the sweetest, most loving and sensitive creature I’ve ever encountered, I feel so lucky to be loved by him. Jump to 2017, my fiancé Justin and I decided we wanted to raise a kitten together. We adopted a beautiful brown tabby boy from the Humane Society and named him Lemmy(after Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead). He’s a wild one, but such a pure hearted soul. We had no plans on getting anymore cats for a long time. But one cold March night in 2018, a lonely little female cat(later to be named Starla) came to our porch. We fed her and made a special box for her to sleep in. That lasted about 30 minutes. We let her inside and fell in love with her immediately. A couple of weeks later at a vet appointment - it was discovered that she was pregnant! She gave birth to 3 little girls and 1 little boy. My mom took 2 of them, and we kept the other 2 - Billie Jean and Rocky! They provide us with so much love, joy and entertainment. I feel like the luckiest gal in the world to share a home with them.

What is your favorite treat at the shop?

Wow this is a challenging question!!! I adore every delicious treat I’ve tried at Hopscotch. From the mouth-watering savory quiches to the delicately sweet macarons - I’m in love! If I had to choose one thing though, it would have to be one of the mini brown butter cakes with vanilla icing. They are so yummy and comforting - and I love the size and convenience of them! The perfect treat. I also love coming in to see the super creative seasonal lattes you guys create. Excellent coffee drinks!

MEET THE MAKER: Made by MEW

Meet Madeleine, she makes polymer clay jewelry and she’ll be popping up with us December 7th from 12-5!

How did you find your way to polymer clay jewelry?

I started creating polymer clay beads for large necklaces I created as gifts for friends and family. I loved the warmth of the clay and the variety of colors I could create and combine, but wanted to create more intricate designs. I began making earrings because I couldn't find ones that were elaborate, comfortable, and in my price range. My style has grown to include delicate floral designs and unconventional color combinations.

You organize and support markets for Imbibe, how important is it as a maker and organizer that our community supports the arts?

So important! The best way to make an impact in your community is to keep your money within the community. As an organizer, my goal is to encourage artistic endeavors, to provide a platform for minority entrepreneurs, and celebrate our local social culture. A market isn't just for the makers, it's a community event to attend with your neighbor, enjoy local music, and learn about other opportunities. As a maker, I've learned so much from others and am constantly overwhelmed by the support and helpful information I've received within the creative community.

What is your favorite holiday memory?

My family places a huge emphasis on tradition. Every Christmas Eve, we go over to my grandparent's house after singing rounds of carols at First Presbyterian Church of Urbana. My grandparents are exceptionally southern and prepare a midnight (9pm) feast of drop biscuits with ham, fruitcake, and other goodies. Without fail, my younger sister finds a porcelain baby Jesus hidden somewhere in the living room and places it in the manger. My grandfather recites some scripture, and we relax. It's a wonderful pause during the holidays to be with family, laugh about how uncomfortably full we are from ham biscuits, and enjoy the unspoken anticipation for tomorrow.

What is your favorite treat at the Hop?

It's a tie! I absolutely love the Cardamom Orange Canelé but if there are any savory scones left, grab one! Or five.

MEET THE MAKERS: Clay + Thread POST NOVEMBER

Our names are Sophie and Quillin and we are passionate about empowering women and building community. We have been best friends since middle school, but have just recently started Clay + Thread this past August. The positive response from women all over the country has been overwhelming. Clay + Thread stands for the product we create, clay and thread earrings. It also represents how we are molded by God, knit in our mothers wombs from the very beginning. We dreamed up this business by combining our new found hobbies and collaborating together to create a platform that we could share them with those around us. We are currently only selling our earrings through Instagram, on our good friends food truck, Just Bee Açai, and at the occasional craft fair, but our goals for this business go beyond those things. We have intention to continue collaboration with other women-run businesses and begin giving some of our profit away to empower other non-for profits and efforts that further God’s kingdom in this world. Beyond just earrings, we also sell other clay + thread jewelry including bracelets, necklaces and keychains! We are so grateful for you lovely people and the impact you have on this world.