Exciting New Dessert Shop Shakes Up Abingdon, VA
In the quaint town of Abingdon, VA, two entrepreneurial minds have come together to create a dessert lover’s paradise. Cassie Rowe and Kitzi Manuel, both seasoned businesswomen with their own retail ventures on Main Street, have fused their passions for baking and ice cream to open a delightful new spot called Shaked!. This charming dessert shop, nestled in a location that has long been associated with sweet treats, celebrated its first anniversary on May 1, 2023.
With its unique offerings and creative recipes like “Virginia is for Lovers” and “Campfire by the Creeper,” Shaked! has quickly become a local favorite. Rowe and Manuel are now gearing up to welcome a flood of visitors during the much-anticipated Virginia Highlands Festival and are also supporting a Clint Black concert at the nearby Moonlite Theatre on Aug. 3.
“We do bakes and couture milkshakes,” said co-owner Cassie Rowe, who has been running the Abingdon Gifting Company for seven years. What sets these milkshakes apart is the meticulous design and love poured into each creation. From shakes topped with cherries and chocolate to those brimming with s’mores, each one is crafted to be a visual and gastronomic delight.
“We call them couture milkshakes because the word, by definition, means anything that’s designed,” explained Rowe, a Meadowview native and 2010 graduate of Patrick Henry High School. “We put a lot of effort into our designs — and lots of love.”
This attention to detail seems to work wonders, attracting a crowd of sweet tooth enthusiasts from places as far-flung as Kingsport, Tennessee, and Marion, Virginia. “We feel like, on Main Street, we are a stand-alone operation,” Rowe continued. “Even though parking is tough, we do get a lot of visitors who come solely for us.”
The other half of this dynamic duo, Kitzi Manuel, graduated from Holton High School in 2001 and operates Love & Light Specialty Boutique, now known as the Emporium of Abingdon. Both owners are next-door neighbors in their separate business ventures on Main Street.
Interestingly, the genesis of Shaked! stems from the individual aspirations of Manuel and Rowe. Rowe had always dreamt of opening a bakery, while Manuel fantasized about running an ice cream shop. Today, they seamlessly complete each other’s sentences, working together to bring joy to their customers with every sip and bite.
“I grew up in restaurants,” Manuel shared. “My parents owned and operated several restaurants. My mom was a baker. She was so much into desserts, just in general.” For Manuel, the enthusiasm for ice cream was a natural extension of her upbringing in the culinary world. “I like baking, but ice cream is just fun. And we get excited to see people just literally run to get their ice cream, especially the big shakes — the couture shakes. They just love those.”
The vibrant buzz surrounding Shaked! extends beyond its delicious offerings. The upcoming Virginia Highlands Festival is expected to draw a significant crowd to Abingdon, giving the dessert shop an excellent opportunity to showcase its unique treats to even more new faces. On top of that, the Clint Black concert at Moonlite Theatre promises to bring in a swarm of concert-goers eager to try out what Shaked! has to offer.
Both Rowe and Manuel are optimistic about the future and passionate about their vision. They believe that their innovative approach to desserts can continue to captivate locals and visitors alike, making each visit to Shaked! a special occasion.
If you find yourself in Abingdon, make sure to drop by Shaked! for an unforgettable dessert experience. Whether you’re in the mood for a carefully crafted milkshake or a decadent baked good, Rowe and Manuel have created a sweet haven that promises to delight every patron.
So next time you’re wandering along Main Street, don’t let tough parking deter you. Step into Shaked! and treat yourself to what could easily become your new favorite dessert spot. With creativity, passion, and a sprinkle of love, Cassie Rowe and Kitzi Manuel have truly shaken up Abingdon’s dessert scene.
