Local Abilene favorite McKay’s Bakery returns to the community after nearly three years of closure.
Rebranded as Moli McKay’s Bakery and Cafe and under new ownership by Denise Molinaro, the bakery reopened its doors on Feb. 9 and hasn’t slowed down since.
“We’ve sold about 10,000 thumbprints since we opened,” Molinaro said.
Reviving many iconic McKay’s Bakery items like their classic thumbprint cookie, harvest muffins and chocolate eclairs, Molinaro said it’s big shoes to fill, but she’s excited to add her own twist on things.
“We’re keeping most of their recipes and then also adding our own,” said Molinaro.
Opening a bakery has been one of Molinaro’s longest-standing dreams, and after moving to Abilene from Mineral Wells where she had been baking part-time, Molinaro knew this was what she wanted to do.
“I had always had my eye on McKay’s. I loved the building, the location and all of that, but as we got here, I got a breast cancer diagnosis,” said Molinaro.
“So I went through treatment,” she said. “And as I’m going through it, I’m like, you know, if you’re going to do this, you need to do it. Stop suppressing your dreams. Stop being fearful. Just go ahead and pursue it.”
Molinaro got in contact with McKay’s owners, Amy Riley, daughter of the bakery’s founders Bobby and Dianne Green, and her husband, Kelly Riley, who, at the time, were struggling to stay open in a post-COVID world.
“I got to know them and just spent so many hours sitting and talking and learning the history,” said Molinaro. “And then I worked alongside Amy and Kelly.”
When the family decided it was time to close and sell the business in July 2023, Molinaro stepped forward and took ownership.
“There’s something special about McKay’s, and so that’s why, even though it was a much bigger investment, I felt like it needed to happen,” said Molinaro. “It was worth it, and it’s a tremendous responsibility to the community because there’s such an affection for it, and we really want to do it well.”
After three years of planning, preparing and securing a new location and staff for the bakery, Abilene’s beloved McKay’s is now back in business, but this time a little more pink and with a new name.
“Every time I hear the stories and what it means to people, it is just so heartwarming,” said Molinaro. “People were like, ‘I had every birthday cake since I was born made there, and then they made my wedding cake, and I cried when they closed down,’ stories like that.”
McKay’s had been in business for over three decades before closing and had established itself as a cornerstone of the Abiline community, winning countless awards and stealing the hearts of its customers one thumbprint cookie at a time. Now, back in business, Molinaro plans to continue McKay’s legacy and provide Abiline with the delicious bakery items it deserves.
“To me, McKay’s is a story. And this year is 35 years since it was founded,” said Molinaro. “All I want is just a chapter in the story. And my hope is that we build a good, vibrant business, and somebody else wants to pick up the torch and carry it after me.”
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene’s beloved McKay’s Bakery reopens as Moli McKay’s
Reporting by Lauren Dossey, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
