Restaurants / Openings

Two Rebellious Grandmas Open a New Bakery in Dallas, Make Preston Road a Little Sweeter

From Real Estate to Baklava

BY // 01.25.19

Two Persian grandmothers are shaking up Dallas’ bread scene. Sherry Ghafar and Ashraf Hosseini opened Grandmas’ Bakery at 17977 Preston Road.

The 65 and 66-year-old friends decided to team up to sell baklava and cakes when the space opened up, after an application for one of Ghafar’s real estate clients for that same spot fell through. Coincidently, the neighborhood is filled with other Iranian restaurants, such as Shiraz and Giovanni’s, so their Iranian bakery fits right in.

The two women met when Ghafar, who has been working in DFW real estate for 35 years, sold Hosseini a house. Ghafar is known for her Persian baklava, which is made with almonds, rose water, and cardamom.

Hosseini makes amazing cakes and also taught cake decorating at Michael’s for 10 years. A trip to Greece inspired Ghafar to finally pursue her dream of opening a bakery, and as soon as she knew that Hosseini was on board, the two got to baking.

The Power of Turkish Coffee

When I sat down with the two grandmas at Grandmas’ Bakery, I definitely felt that charm of going to your grandmother’s house and being spoiled with treats. The welcoming bakers first brought me and my friend Persian danishes and baklava to sample. Then came coffee, whipped cream rolls, and more coffee.

Their slogan is “we bring back memories,” and although I didn’t grow up with an Iranian grandmother, I still felt the sentiment.

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Turkish coffee was my favorite thing to try. It’s made with very finely ground coffee beans, which are left over at the bottom of the small Turkish coffee cups. Ghafar told me that old Persian grandmothers sometimes read fortunes from the sediment.

Along with fresh pastries and cookies sold in store, the bakery can custom make cakes and cupcakes for any occasion. They’ve baked and decorated for weddings, birthdays, and graduation parties. Hosseini is a fondant master and has created everything from an Alice in Wonderland cake to a doctor’s white coat and stethoscope design.

Hosseini also teaches a kid’s cake decorating class at the bakery where kids learn how to decorate cupcakes. More classes will take place in the summer.

The grandmothers have a bit of a rebellious streak in them. When Ghafar and Hosseini decided to sign a 5-year lease for their business, their kids looked at them a bit skeptically, but the grandmothers were determined. When Ghafar’s nephew, who works in advertising, mentioned that Grandmas’ Bakery might not be a good name because it would come up with many answers when searching online, the grandmas still went with it.

On top of Persian treats, the bakery sells gluten-free cookies, chocolate cupcakes, fruit cakes, cheesecake, cream puffs, carrot cake and so much more. There’s something for everyone. The quaint space on Preston offers two small tables to sit and talk with a friend or read a book. There’s even a woman that comes in and knits from time to time. It’s truly like Grandma’s house.

Grandmas’ Bakery is open Mondays through Fridays from 7am to 7pm and Saturdays from 10am to 6pm.

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