BY KIM McKINNEY

Emily Noland was a full-time nurse working with medically fragile kids when she started baking on the side for Josh’s Farmer’s Market in 2012.

Eight years later, when the COVID-19 pandemic began and she could no longer see her patients in person, Emily began to feel as though all she was doing was pushing paper.

At the same time, demand for her baked goods was increasing. One day she received a phone call from someone asking if she might be interested in opening a bakery in Mooresville. There was a small space available — with a coffee shop next door.

After deciding to leave nursing and dedicate herself to the new venture, she learned that the coffee shop was going to close. She knew that would negatively impact business, and she could not run both a bakery and a coffee shop.

Meanwhile, her son Parker was feeling less than satisfied about his IT job. After hearing about the coffee shop, he took a part-time job there to learn the business and started taking classes to learn more. He eventually purchased the business.

Last year, faced with the prospect of a significant rent increase, the Nolands began looking for new space.

They visited the shop on West Broad Street in Statesville that had housed Sweet Thing bakery. The square footage was greater, and the rent only slightly more than they were in paying in Mooresville. They decided to combine their businesses and move them to downtown Statesville.

The Vanilla Bean opened in October of 2022. After a rough patch attributed to remodeling, staffing issues and illness, Emily and Parker are now hitting their stride.

Bakery items change daily and include cupcakes of different flavors, large cookies and brownies, and cases full of other delicacies. They offer a large selection of gluten-free items.

They make special order cakes (weddings, birthdays, gender reveals, etc.) and can even customize cookies for special occasions or for business gifts (your logo in cookie-form).

Parker is continually tweaking his coffee menu. He uses Black Powder coffee, which is roasted in Mooresville, for his base. He says consistency is important to him — you should know your coffee will taste the same today as the last time you loved it.

His frozen hot chocolate gets raves. He also serves boba (bubble tea) and smoothies.

The Nolands are enjoying the community of downtown Statesville. They have partnered with other local businesses on projects and have ideas of partnering with others.

Emily plans to hold special events for children. On April 8, the Easter Bunny will be on site with “paint your own” cookies. Reservations will be required for the cookie decorating to ensure they have enough cookies on hand.

The Vanilla Bean also has space dedicated to locally made items – from paintings to barbeque sauce.

The Nolands support the Odd Sock Project, a nonprofit out of Davidson. Their shop has a box where you can donate odd socks when you’ve lost the mate. (Pairs are accepted, too, of course.)

The Nolands hope their business will make the community better. They say the smiles and compliments they receive from their customers make their day.

The Vanilla Bean & Coffee Shop is located at 127 West Broad Street in Statesville. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in “IFN Monthly.”