Biz Beat: NibblexNosh in Scotia offers fresh baked goods with a twist

Man and woman stand in store — PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

NibblexnNosh owners Joe and Adrienne Sikorski in the Scotia establishment on Mohawk Avenue recently.

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SCOTIA — Joe Sikorski first began baking as a child alongside his mother at their Niskayuna home, where he has fond memories of Toll House chocolate chips and preparing pressed sugar cookies around the holidays.

Sikorski would go on to graduate from SUNY Schenectady with a degree in culinary arts and work at a couple of restaurants before eventually pursuing a career in the IT industry. But he was never far from the kitchen.

“I’ve always wanted my own bakery,” he said. “Ever since I was younger I talked about it, but I never really thought that it would happen.”

But Sikorski’s dream came true earlier this month when he and his wife, Adrienne Sikorski, opened NibblexNosh, the newest storefront taking Mohawk Avenue by storm with its decadent desserts and unique twists on classic cookie recipes that Joe Sikorski spent years perfecting.

Dozens wrapped around the 1,000-square-foot building at 109 Mohawk Ave. on opening day, picking the glass display case clean in around three hours. The shop has closed early after selling out of baked goods on numerous occasions since.

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More than 5,000 cookies have been baked and sold since the shop opened on March 11, according to the Sikorskis, who said business has exceeded all expectations.

On a recent afternoon — one the couple described as quiet compared to previous days — several items were sold out as a steady stream of customers found their way into the shop, pausing to take in the selection that included sprinkle stuffed sugar cookies and peanut butter explosion, a chocolate peanut butter cookie smashed with miniature peanut butter cups and coated with a peanut butter drizzle.

There were cookie cups, extra chocolatey chips and Sallies, a strawberry shortcake-inspired cookie named after Joe’s mother that features homemade strawberry jam sandwiched between two shortbread cookies and coated in royal icing. The shop also sells coffee and homemade chocolate and salted caramel drizzles.

Everyone that entered left with a handful of goodies, including a pair of Scotia police officers, who stopped in while patrolling the busy business district.

“I can’t believe the amount of support that we have received daily. It’s insane,” Adrienne said. “This little village is wonderful and the people that are in it are even more wonderful.”

NibblexNosh began three years ago in the Sikorskis kitchen during the early days of the pandemic, when the couple, like many, were working from home and looking for ways to occupy their time.

It was Adrienne who encouraged her husband to start baking. She used her 25 years in retail management to develop a logo and marketing plan, and the couple began selling at the Schenectady Greenmarket.

It didn’t take long for the operation to outgrow the Sikorskis kitchen, and pretty soon the couple was looking for a permanent shop to serve its growing customer base. They settled on Scotia after touring the Mohawk Avenue location, which provides ample vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

The shop draws customers in with its window display of a pirate chef depicting a skull and cross bone made up of a whisk and wooden spoon with an eyepatch featuring the Poland coat of arms that represents the Sikorskis proud Polish heritage.

“I love seeing people’s faces when they come in and look at the case, especially the little kids,” Joe said. “There was this one kid last week. I wish I could have gotten a picture of him. He was up at the case and literally put his face right up on it.”

NibblexNosh is a family affair. The oldest Sikorski child, 21-year-old Caiden, works in the front of the shop, while the youngest, 6-year-old Mason, serves as the official taste tester, sampling every batch before they go on sale.

“It’s got to be visually good,” Joe said. “But I want your taste buds to scream more than your eyeballs do when you put it in your mouth.”

For more information on NibblexNosh, visit the store website, nibblexnosh.com, or facebook.com/nibblexnosh.

Contact reporter Chad Arnold at: [email protected] or by calling 518-395-3120.