A new dessert destination has landed in Amherst, but it has long been part of a staple in the community.
Dulces by Vera is now open at 3 S Pleasant St., bringing Mexican-style sweets, rich flavors and a trendy vibe to the local food scene.
The new business is a dessert-forward extension of La Veracruzana, a popular and beloved Mexican eatery in Amherst, Easthampton and Northampton. To add to the restaurant’s established charm, Dulces by Vera was “created to bring a cozy coffee shop atmosphere and authentic Mexican sweets to downtown Amherst,” according to its website.
“It’s just fun to be able to integrate something that has been here for the last 25-plus years now,” Sunia Hood, owner of Dulces by Vera, said about the new dessert shop.
And while it offers traditional desserts such as flan and tres leches, the business kicks it up a notch with coffee, sundaes and a whole wall of candy — including Swedish candy, a trend that has the internet raving.
Customers can grab a candy bag and scoop their own combinations of candy to their liking. The cost is based on the weight of the candy inside the bag.
Not in the mood for candy? The establishment carries a wide variety of Mexican-inspired desserts, such as churro flights, horchata ice cream and even creations like dessert nachos and ice cream tacos. Even if you don’t have a sweet tooth, you can enjoy a cup of coffee from Dulces by Vera.
While sweet shops aren’t a new concept, it’s certainly bringing a new concept to the community.
“I don’t think anyone reinvents the wheel,” Hood told MassLive. “But it’s not out in Amherst, it’s not out in the surrounding community. If we can bring new things to the community, then that’s great.”
As one of a kind in the area, the new business is hoping it attracts the likes of college students. With Amherst College, Hampshire College and the University of Amherst all down the street, Dulces by Vera welcomes hungry students late-night, if they want to sit in the shop with their laptop to do work, or even hang out and chit-chat.
After all, it is the generation that Hood praises for bringing a shop like this to life.
Hood’s 21-year-old daughter even inspired her to include a candy wall, as trends like Swedish candy are popular with that age group. Hood even heard ideas from younger staff members that helped bring the new place to life.
Upon entering the shop, customers will immediately take notice of the youthful, chic aesthetic, blending colorful decor with trendy furnishing.
“It really was built on the younger generations’ creativity and just their ‘let’s do this’ attitude. I mean, that’s how it turned out so fast,” Hood said.
For the future, Hood hopes to see another location. In the spring, when the weather warms up, Dulces by Vera even wants to bring popsicles to its menu.
But for now, Hood is focusing on doing right by Dulces by Vera and “serving this community that really has served us well throughout the years.”
Dulces by Vera is open Mondays through Wednesdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., although hours are subject to change.
