[Posted Dec. 19, 2007]

Making The Holidays Come Alive

SWEETS AND GOODIES: 

DARLIN BAKE SHOP

By Rosaland Tyler
Associate Editor
New Journal and Guide  

      Since William Tolliver and his now-deceased wife, Saundra, opened Darlin Bake Shop on Airline Boulevard 12 years ago in Portsmouth, the demand for his sweet potato jack has increased.
      Each year, Tolliver makes about 14,500 sweet potato jacks, which are sold wholesale and retail. Sweet potato pudding and sweet dough are shaped into a half moon, then fried. The center is soft.
“It’s light and fluffy,” said Tolliver, listing other bakery favorites he sells throughout the holidays. There are three different sizes of fruitcakes, which range from $6.95 to $41.50. Darlin is currently located at 3112 Tyre Neck Rd. in Chesapeake, about a block from Portsmouth in the Churchland area.
      He also makes cakes such as pineapple, coconut, lemon, strawberry and his popular yellow cake with chocolate frosting. His sweet potato pies are popular. So are his mince meat pies.

William Tolliver in his Darlin Bake Shop.

Photo by Alvin Swilley

      Darlin Bake Shop was founded 12 years ago when Tolliver relocated from Los Angeles to Churchland, where he grew up. It was named after his late mother-in-law, who everybody called “darling”.
      Although his wife who ran the bakery with him passed away three years ago, long after the bakery had relocated from Airline Boulevard (its original location), to Tower Mall, he said his customers have remained loyal.
     “We basically sell the same things we sold when we first opened except that we now sell more of it,” he said.
      Catering is another bakery specialty, especially during the holidays, he said. There’s fried chicken, ham and other specialties. Prices range from $8-$12 per person for catered events which require at least two-weeks notice.
     “We do a lot of cake decorations and wedding cakes also,” he said.
  

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