Butter Pecan Bakeshop to hold Grand Opening of Antioch location Oct. 2
“The best cookies in the Bay” to be offered at only 2nd franchise out of 7 locations so far
“They’re Southern desserts turned into cookies,” co-owner Dale Ingram
“It was nothing short of a leap of faith.” – co-owner Desiree Ingram
By Allen D. Payton
After months of preparation and much anticipation, entrepreneurs Dale and Desiree Ingram are excited to announce the Grand Opening of the new Butter Pecan Bakeshop Antioch on Friday, October 2nd. They will regularly offer a menu of the company’s line of 10 cookies including dark chocolate sea salt, cookies & cream, banana pudding, birthday cake, the staple cookie – brown butter pecan, and many more and will feature two special cookies each month. Since people enjoy milk and cookies, the menu will also include milk, plus, water for their guests. The Antioch location is just the second franchise for the five-year-old Vallejo-based company, out of seven locations, total.
With early career experience in the restaurant industry and backgrounds spanning customer service, investing, and business operations, the Ingrams shared their journey to entrepreneurship and how their collective experience is helping them prepare to open Butter Pecan Bakeshop Antioch.
“We’ve been getting trained. We’re holding interviews this week then we’ll train our staff,” Dale said.
Asked why they decided on this business opportunity, he said, “I was a customer at the Pinole store, and I was part of the newsletter, and it said they’re in the process of becoming a franchise. Another project we worked on for a year came to a halt, so, we thought, ‘let’s see what this Butter Pecan franchise is about’.”
“We had an introductory call on a Tuesday and that night we met in person,” Dale stated. “We just hit it off. Like-minded individuals. Entrepreneurs. We shared our inspirations and interests. Both driven individuals.”
“He sent over the paperwork, and I shared it with my wife,” he added.
“There were several incidences that were God-ordained,” Dale shared. “There are no coincidences. That’s why I think the other project we had been working on ended after a year of work. I prayed and asked God, ‘if not that what is it?’”
Desiree then said, “There was a bit of uncertainty hanging in the balance. Before the bakeshop opportunity came into play, I was wanting to transfer out of my job; I was very unfulfilled. I had a good run. They were great to me. It was a great experience. But it just wasn’t serving me anymore. I was praying and crying and went to my husband and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’”
“But we didn’t know what was going to come of it,” she continued.
“It was nothing short of a leap of faith,” Desiree shared. “The other business venture started to slow down. I was transitioning out of my corporate role. But we were desiring for something more that will be fulfilling for us both and leave a legacy for our kids. The desire was there. We just didn’t know how it was going to unfold.”
“The reason the timeline is so important and sticks out for me, on the 2nd of January, which was my last day at my job, that day I was filling out the paperwork for the franchise,” Desiree stated. “Then Dale had his introductory call with the founder, Wendell Hunter.”
“It was literally one door closes and another one opens,” Desiree continued sharing about their path to the cookie business. “Before I made my decision to leave my corporate job, I was driving home and just praying and having my moment of seeking clarity from God. He simply said, ‘Do you trust me?’ Then I was filling out the paperwork and felt like this was our way of saying, ‘yes’.”
“I get chills thinking about it because it was all mind blowing,” Dale shared. “After working the entire last year on a project that was not aligned with His will. When we finally took a break and opened our minds and laid that down, and this is became the one that finally worked.”
A Family Business
It’s a family business. They have a five-year old son and a four-year-old daughter.
“Our son has already made a business decision on our behalf,” Dale stated. “I asked how much we should sell the cookies for and he said, ‘$10,000.’
The legacy they’re working to leave for their children is why their corporate name is Ingram Legacy Group, LLC, which was started for this venture and to include all of their future ventures, he shared.
The Company’s & Cookies’ Origins and a Few of the Flavors
The description of the cookies on the website reads, “Southern-inspired homestyle cookies, baked fresh for every occasion. Cookies your way….”
“The owner’s family used to make Southern desserts, everyone contributes,” Dale explained. “He moved away and missed his grandmother’s nutcake made with pecans. So, he thought, ‘how can we bring the family together’ and he took his grandmother’s recipe, baked the brown butter pecan cookie and sent it out to his family. They said, ‘this is amazing’ and that’s what started things.”
“They’re Southern desserts turned into cookies,” Dale continued, giving examples of their flavors including, “Banana pudding, peach cobbler, German chocolate, and of course, pecan pie.”
Desiree said, “There are 10 that are offered year-round then two specialty cookies each month. Probably the peach cobbler in the fall aligned with the holidays.”
There will be the “Childhood Favorites” of peanut butter and jelly, birthday cake, cookies and cream, and strawberries and cream. Then varying levels of sweetness. Some people don’t want it too sweet. Others say, ‘give me all the sugar!’”
Asked if there will be a salted caramel cookie (this reporter’s favorite) she said that it would be seasonal.
“But the company responds to requests on social media,” Desiree added.
“Which is why they brought back strawberries and cream on the regular menu,” Dale stated. “I love that one. There’s nowhere else you can get that. The tart strawberries and white chocolate.”
Restaurant, Corporate Experience
“I loved all my restaurant jobs,” said Dale. “I think that’s what intrigued me about this business, the customer service. We know you’re going to be satisfied when you leave here. All these things intrigued me about this opportunity.”
“We’re able to bridge our two worlds, customer service, and my background in operations,” Desiree said.
Corporate Growth
The first store opened in 2021 in Pinole.
“Currently they have five corporate stores and their first franchise opened in February in Hayward. We will be the second.”
The corporate locations are in “Pinole, Emeryville, Pleasant Hill, Fairfield and Vallejo, where they have the storefront with the production facility in the back,” he shared.
Ordering Options
Asked if there will be packages, Dale said, “Customers can buy them single, a half dozen or a dozen, which is the better deal, because you’re buying 10 and getting two free and can get one of each.”
“We do have the pre-made boxes such as: best sellers, nut lovers, chocolate lovers and Southern classics,” Desiree shared.
Asked if there’s an app or if people can call in an order ahead of time Dale said, “You can pre-order online through the corporate website, butterpecanbakeshop.com. We also have one corporate social media account.”
“We believe we’re on the right path and we know because we’ve seen Him through the process. It’s been very smooth,” she shared. “But there’s been sometimes that God makes sure, ‘do you still trust Me? If you trusted Me then, you can trust Me now. If I carried you then why would I stop now?’”
“If He did it before, He can do it again,” Dale added.
Corporate Owner Announces Antioch Location in April
In a post on the company’s Facebook page on April 20, 2026, corporate founder Wendell Hunter shared a video announcing the new location and wrote, “Antioch, California, are you ready for your very own BUTTER PECAN BAKESHOP?!?! “We’re coming loud and proud with The BEST Cookies in The Bay this Fall!
“We’re beyond excited to be opening our second franchise location in your city! Tag someone who lives in Antioch in the comments & stay tuned for more details coming soon!”
Antioch Chamber Announces with Video in September
Then on Sept. 9, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce posted a video on their Facebook page of Dale offering a tour of the bakeshop saying, “Butter Pecan Bakeshop Antioch! We’re so excited to be here. Happy to show you the space. I know everybody’s been excited.”
“If you haven’t done so, already, make sure you visit Butter Pecan Bakeshop on Instagram, click the link in the bio and join the VIP list. That is where you’ll get all the information for our upcoming Grand Opening that is coming real, real soon. Alright. Hope to see you there. And don’t forget we’re right here in The Crossings Hillcrest shopping center right next to Safeway and Ross.”
Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Details
The Ingrams will hold the Grand Opening of their Butter Pecan Bakeshop Antioch location on Friday, October 2nd from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., following the Ribbon Cutting with the Antioch Chamber of Commerce at noon on Friday with RC at beginning. Butter Pecan Bakeshop founder Wendell Hunter will be there and speak, the Ingrams will speak, as will District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson and Mayor Pro Tem Don Freitas in whose District 3 the bakeshop is located at 3345 Deer Valley Road.
According to the Grand Opening announcement on the company’s Instagram account, “The first 100 customers get a FREE Cookie! We’ll also be selecting a few local businesses to receive a fresh box of cookies! Nominate your favorite Antioch business as a cookie drop stop by tagging them in the comments!”
the attachments to this post:
Butter Pecan Bakeshop Pecan Pie & PB&J
Butter Pecan Bakeshop Germ choc cake & choc chip
Butter Pecan Bakeshop box of 10 + 2
Cookie oven, dough freezers & rack
Butter Pecan Bakeshop Antioch owners Dale & Desiree Ingram
Butter Pecan Bakeshop Antioch GO flier & Cookie box
