Got PIE?

Debbie’s Delicious Desserts Storefront

Ellwood City has been booming lately with new businesses of all kinds in the last several years, and Signs by Sam has been fortunate to experience much of the buzz at the forefront (or one could say storefront), from providing main ID signage to window and vehicle graphics for many of these entrepreneurs. Debbie’s Delicious Desserts is one of those businesses that we recently had the chance to work with and see how they are making Ellwood City sweeter and sweeter, even giving Ellwood’s “Got PIE?” (Pride in Ellwood) saying a dual meaning.

All In the Family

A Christmas Cookie Tray was a treasured tradition for Debra; she continues this even today, fulfilling orders for her customers around the holidays.

Debra McCullough vividly recalls holidays when she was young. Christmas time consisted of three things – food, family, and friends. You would walk into her parent’s house and be greeted with a bountiful table of foods and desserts. Friends and family alike would visit, enjoy the tastes of the season, and create endless memories. The apple did not fall far from the tree, as Debra acquired her mother’s love and talent for baking and would help in making various cookies for the season. She describes her mom, Connie Bell, as the “great pie baker of Ellwood City,” so it is no surprise that she has continued this tradition even years down the road.

It was a stroke of unfortunate luck that actually paved the way for what would be Debbie’s Delicious Desserts. After being laid off from a prior job in medical transcriptions, a passion turned into a purpose when she decided to start her own baking business. While establishing herself in her new career, she continued to channel her skills and pursued a position as lead baker at Panera Bread in Cranberry Township. She would go on to license her kitchen with the Department of Agriculture and orders continued to roll in, making it evident that Debbie was destined for something bigger.

Last Christmas, when putting together tons of Christmas cookie trays, in my small kitchen, it was at that point that my husband and I agreed it was time for me to look for a commercial kitchen with a bigger space. – McCullough

The interior of Debbie’s Delicious Desserts leaves you feeling like you are back home in Grandma’s kitchen.

An interesting fact about Debra’s big move is that she has set up shop in the same building Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ used to be located before moving to their new storefront! It would seem that the opening of this building was fate and further solidified the move to start her own business!

Connecting with the Community

Debbie and her husband, Jim

Working with the Ellwood City community has always been a top priority for Debbie, providing various ways to enjoy her sweet treats. Catering is available for customers, whether it is for a wedding, a picnic for a family outing, or for a fundraiser. Another popular option is getting your desserts Made-to-Order. With just a day’s notice, customers may call anytime Monday through Friday. Lastly, if you have a hankering for a freshly baked pie or batch of cookies and want to stop down to see all your options, Debbie’s shop is open Saturdays for walk-ins. Gift certificates are also available for birthdays, holidays, or even a simple “thank you” to someone special.

Debbie’s Delicious Desserts has a knack for not only satisfying Ellwood City’s sweet tooth, but their storefront is also something to be admired. From the moment you step in the shop, Debbie makes sure you feel like you are in “Grandma’s kitchen,” from the décor to the homemade pie smells. “Let’s make pie great again” is something her and her husband live by, and they enjoy getting to know the residents of Ellwood City even more as a result. Building great relationships with your customers is just like pie – the more there is, the sweeter life seems to be – and we all know there’s no such thing as too much pie.