Page 15 - Harnett Life Summer 2022

Bake Lab Owner and General
Manager Laura Mee

committed to the Harnett County community and the enhance- that truly sits at the crossroads of the county. Regular Bake
ment of life here and beyond. The owners say their business Lab customers come from nearby the University, across Har-
platform is “really a simple ‘recipe’ where customers return nett County, Fuquay-Varina, Raleigh and Fayetteville.”
time after time” and a place “they are happy to see becoming
part of the growing landscape of the county.” More than satisfying the new start-up idea of the owners, Bake
Lab is also on a mission, said David and Laura Mee, “to ensure
Laura and David Mee relocated to Harnett County from Nash- high-quality and unique baked goods are produced every day.”
ville, Tennessee, in 2020. David serves as a vice president at
Campbell University, while Laura oversees the daily options Bake Lab’s owners and 10 staff members work hard daily to
of Bake Lab as general manager and the chief baker. Laura bring an “elevated baking experience” to the county. As the re-
was working with a friend who operated a cheesecake bakery gion’s cheesecake specialist, the bakery sold 10,000-plus of its
in their former hometown when the idea of starting her own petite cheesecakes in its first few months. While walk-ins are
bakery began to simmer. The Mees have two adult daughters. always welcome to peruse the daily selections, custom orders
can be made for weddings, birthdays, corporate gatherings or
Charles and Suzanne Royal are longtime Harnett County resi- any special event. The baking team works individually with
dents and business owners. Beyond their business interests, the customers to design the perfect cake or other creations — Call
pair are involved in numerous ministry and volunteer activi- 910-984-1470 or email [email protected] to get started.
ties. Suzanne is also an artist who seasonally makes and sells Bake Lab is a take-out bakery; for the latest business hours,
jewelry, much of which is Campbell University-themed. They visit the bakery’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ncba-
have one son, Chess, also an owner of Bake Lab. kelab.

Chess and Lindsay Royal reside in Benson and own various If not bagging up the best-tasting treats around, Bake Lab
businesses, including Creek Coffee, just two doors down from staff members are selling great gifts to customers. The bak-
Bake Lab, Trophy Case in Dunn and The Royal Boutique in ery doubles as a gift shop, offering unique, hard-to-find name-
Benson. The Royals have four children. brand products. Product items include the popular Two Lumps
of Sugar gift items, custom greeting cards and even birthday
Of their move to Harnett County to fulfill the desire to open candles, making Bake Lab a one-stop special event destination.
a bakery, the Mees said, “When the opportunity presented it-
self to us to partner with the Royals, it was quickly determined The Mees brag on how Harnett County put out the welcome
that available retail space in the Buies Creek area made sense. mat for them when they first arrived.
Campbell University provided an immediate community that
was ready for what Bake Lab had to offer — with a location “We received a welcome beyond what we could have ever ex-

Harnett Life ~ Summer 2022 Page 15