Mother-Daughter Team Opens Bakery in Fair Lawn

A Saddle Brook mom and daughter recently took a lifelong hobby of baking and turned it into a new business on Fair Lawn's River Road.

Sarah Zadoroznyj and Rebecca Zadoroznyj, Sarah's grown daughter, opened Z-Licious at 12-56 River Road last month and held a grand opening last weekend. The shop offers a variety of freshly baked cookies and other sweets like brownies, biscotti and scones, among others.

Sarah Zadoroznyj had been baking for years, donating cookies for school plays and local scout troops to sell at fundraisers since her children started school. The bakery's decor reflects that, with family photos and souvenirs from the casts of "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Guys and Dolls" on the walls. 

Sarah said she had dreamed of opening her own bakery, but knew she would need one of her children to help, so it came to fruition when Rebecca, her youngest, expressed interest in starting a business. The recipes were all developed by Sarah or her mother, with a focus on taste rather than looks.

"We're kind of like what your mom may have made for your birthday," Sarah Zadoroznyj said. "Our stuff may not look as nice, but it's going to taste a lot better."

Being a small, locally-owned bakery also means they can keep their prices low. Cookies cost just $.50 or $.60 each — they don't price by weight — and everything is made fresh in view of customers. Some passers-by have even noticed a hot batch of cookies or brownies were coming out of the oven and waited on the shop's couch for them to be ready, according to Sarah.

"I like simple things," she said. "I don't like when there's so much stuff in a cookie."

Z-Licious can also do custom recipes or decorations for birthdays and other events. For more info, check out their website, their Facebook or stop by at 12-56 River Road. They're open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.