Family-run bakery with Dominican, Latin American sweets arrives in East Charlotte

If you’re in search of something sweet, a new Latin American bakery in East Charlotte has you covered.

Lina’s Bakery & Coffee Shop will swing open its doors on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 5708 N. Sharon Amity Road in the East Town Market, according to social media posts.

Rooted in Dominican tradition, the shop specializes in homemade desserts, pastries and sandwiches. Hot coffee, frappés, lattes and batidas (creamy Brazilian cocktails) are on the menu, too, along with refreshing smoothies and natural fruit juices.

Customers will find a mix of Mexican and Honduran influence among the bakery’s offerings. Owner Isel “Lina” Robles said she hopes to incorporate special treats from other Central American countries in the future.

“Our goal is to create a place where people can come enjoy something familiar, discover new flavors and feel at home, no matter where they are from,” she told CharlotteFive.

When she started baking just five years ago, Robles said she had no idea it would become such a special part of her family’s life. Even more special is the opportunity to share their Dominican heritage with the community through food. Her favorite treat? Dominican sponge cake.

“To me, it is the most delicious cake in the world!” she said. “It is very special to me because it represents a big part of our Dominican culture and the flavors we grew up loving.”

The chiffon-style dessert, also known as Bizcocho Dominicano, has a buttery soft crumb and is typically filled with a pineapple or fruit jam, according to Dominican Cooking. It’s then finished with suspiro, a fluffy meringue frosting.

Robles and her family are excited to make East Charlotte the home for their first brick-and-mortar bakery. She said they fell in love with the vibrancy and liveliness of the area. Its large Hispanic population was a plus, adding that they wanted to be in a community that felt both familiar and welcoming.

Now, they look forward to inviting locals into the space Robles described as “a family dream” come true.

“We are a family of four — my husband, our two children and me,” she said. “This bakery has been a family effort, and we are so excited to finally open our doors and share something that means so much to all of us with our community.”

Lina’s Bakery & Coffee Shop will be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Location: 5708 N Sharon Amity Rd, Suite K, Charlotte, NC 28215

Cuisine: Latin American bakery, dessert shop

Instagram: @linasbakery22