A new bakery, Rocco’s Cupcake Café, is opening on South Water Street in downtown Kent Saturday.

Owner and operator Michela Rocco is a Kent State University alum. She said she is excited to bring her baked-fresh-everyday cupcakes, cake pops and coffee to downtown Kent.

“My husband and I went to Kent for school and we moved away after graduation,” Rocco said. “We always loved Kent and when looking for a storefront, we saw that downtown Kent had availability. I felt like it was meant to be.”

Rocco has been working to open the store for a year and a half.

“Our product is different from other cupcake shops in the area. We use locally sourced ingredients, you’ll never find boxed mixes here and it’s made fresh everyday,” Rocco said.

Rocco’s Cupcake Café will have its grand opening at noon Saturday to celebrate its first location at 295 South Water St., Suite 108, Kent, OH 44240. It will normally be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The opening will include merchandise giveaways and deals on cupcakes.

Rocco said she looks forward to fostering connections with the area.

“At the heart of it all for me is community. I feel like this is going to be a place where people can come hang out, do some homework and meet up with their friends,” Rocco said. “We are working really hard to give it a homey vibe.”

Chloe Cornely is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].