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A Kickstarter campaign has been launched to bring back the now-shuttered Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop in Kailua.
Kawehi Haug and Kim Potter of Let Them Eat Cupcakes launched the Kickstarter campaign aiming to raise $55,000 to revive the bake shop.
“As born-and-bred Kailuans, we were saddened by the news that our town’s beloved Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop — a staple in our community for almost 50 years — would be closing its doors,” they said in the campaign. “We just couldn’t imagine a Kailua without Agnes. So, we put our heads together, and with Agnes’ owner Non Demello’s blessing, our family of professional bakers (and yes, we ARE Portuguese!), along with help and training from Non, are going to bring back Agnes’!”
The popular Kailua bakery announced that it was closing, after nearly 50 years in business, at 2 p.m. Jan. 28. A long line of customers flooded the bakery in the early morning in its last week to buy dozens of boxes of malasadas.
At the time, Demello gave customers a small hint of future plans. “Don’t be surprised if another Agnes’ pops up.”
Their plan to revive Agnes’ is laid out in three phases: first, to purchase the license for the name, logo, website and recipes for Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop, and second, to find a new space for the bake shop.
The lease for the space at 46 Hoolai St. has ended, so the pair is planning to sell the malasadas from a food truck in Kailua. Third, the pair hopes to open a new bricks-and-mortar retail location for Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop in Kailua.
“We want to create a warm and inviting place where we can continue the Agnes’ legacy for our keiki,” they said in their campaign.
As of Tuesday morning the campaign had $716 from 13 backers.
Supporters will receive malasadas and various items for different amounts of monetary pledges.
The space of the former Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop is reportedly slated for the Beet Box Cafe, according to Kailua residents, an organic and vegetarian eatery that currently has one location in Haleiwa.
UH Army ROTC hosting golf tournament
The University of Hawaii Army ROTC Alumni Association is still looking for participants and sponsors for its seventh annual golf tournament fundraiser on Friday.
The tournament, which includes involvement by the Wounded Warrior Project, will be at the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club and honors 16 fallen warriors who were alumni of the UH Army ROTC program. Shotgun start is at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 774-232-4638.
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