by Melissa Schuman
TROY, N.Y. — After many years as a Farmers’ Market favorite, O’Malley’s Oven has opened a brick and mortar shop in Downtown Troy at 455 Fulton St., in part of the “walkable Downtown corridor.”
Owner Melanie O’Malley celebrated the ribbon cutting of her new store on Friday afternoon. Like her stand at the Farmers’ Market, the store has a variety of both sweet and savory baked goods, including cannoli, tarts, and hand pies. And just like everything sold at the Farmers’ Market, everything in the store is 100% gluten-free.
“I’m somewhat understated about it, because of the preconceived notions,” explained O’Malley. “Gluten-free used to taste like cardboard and broken dreams, but now it tastes delicious.”
O’Malley achieves the perfect texture and taste for her gluten-free bakes by making each of her crusts, shells, and cakes with a different kind of gluten-free flour blend. Each blend is specific to each item in the shop, with ingredients that fulfill specific tasks for the end product.
O’Malley began her gluten-free baking journey as a self-described “stress coping mechanism.” She made items that, as a person with celiac disease, she missed being able to enjoy. When she brought her bakes to the Farmers’ Market starting in 2013, she expanded her menu based on customer and friend requests. Now, nine years later, she’s still going strong.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Melanie to the neighborhood,” said Downtown Troy Business Improvement District (BID) Executive Director Geoff Brault. “She saw a need in the marketplace and leveraged her talents to meet that need. Like so many other small businesses in Downtown Troy, she’s not just selling something – she’s showcasing her passions.”
Mayor Patrick Madden welcomed O’Malley to the city, noting that it was “very brave to open a business in a pandemic.”
“We appreciate that you’ve set up shop in Troy,” he said at the ribbon cutting. “It shows your confidence in the direction the city is going.”
“It’s a fantastic addition to our community,” commented deputy mayor Chris Nolan. “We should do everything we can to support the small businesses. It’s wonderful to see them spreading further and further through the city. What I love is, you try her things and you don’t even know they’re gluten free.”
O’Malley had a generous supply of samples on hand for customers to try, and the consensus was that her bakes were every bit as rich, flavorful, and delicious as an equivalent made with glutenous flour.
After the ribbon cutting, O’Malley received congratulatory citations from the mayor and the BID. She then announced that she had something to give, too. After briefly disappearing inside the shop, she came out with a cupcake for Madden, who was celebrating his birthday, complete with a candle on top.
After blowing out the candle, Madden remarked, “there’s no better birthday present than a trip to a bakery.”
O’Malley’s Oven is open Wednesday-Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, and on Saturdays at the Farmers’ Market from 9 am to 2 pm. Custom cake and wholesaling options are available by inquiring at info@omalleysoven.com or calling (518) 768-7579. For more information, including a menu, visit www.omalleysoven.com or follow on social media at https://www.instagram.com/omalleysoven/ and https://www.facebook.com/omalleysoven.