Just in Time for the Holidays – First Dedicated Gluten Free Establishment Opens in Old Town Manassas

Manassas, VA — A Prince William County farmers market favorite opens their doors in Old Town Manassas just in time for the holidays. Honey and Ivy Gluten Free began selling at the Manassas Farmers Market last season. They have grown to attend three weekly markets and now a shop in Old Town. Honey and Ivy is the first dedicated gluten free establishment in the greater Prince William area. 

In April 2022, Emily Hamby started her venture of baking and selling cookies, cinnamon rolls, and other tasty treats at the local Manassas Farmers market after she had recently moved to the area and wasn’t able to find any safe gluten free options. When she saw the high demand for quality gluten free baked goods in Manassas, she decided to expand her reach and added the Haymarket Farmers Market weekly to her list of growing customers. The demand continued to grow as Honey and Ivy introduced new items, and requests that are hard to find within the gluten free community. All of the menu items are gluten free, and many are vegan as well. To keep up with the growing customer base, Emily partnered with Morgan Ulisse, to manage the cakes, cookies, and custom orders. The duo have spent this past season working to grow the business, adding on the weekly Clifton Farmers Market in addition to their Manassas and Haymarket base.

Honey and Ivy’s new Center Street location is in the heart of Old Town Manassas. It is within walking distance to the train station, the Manassas museum, Harris Pavilion, boutiques, and restaurants. 

The bakery offers a wide range of baked goods as well as coffee, houseplants, local artists, and so much more!

RIBBON CUTTING: Welcoming Honey and Ivy as the newest business in Old Town Manassas.

When: Friday, December 1st, 4:00 PM

Where: 9105 Center Street Old Town Manassas, VA

Event Highlights Include:

Cake and Hot Chocolate: Free cake and hot chocolate from Honey and Ivy!

City of Manassas Tree Lighting: Santa arrives at the Manassas Railroad Depot on the VRE shortly after 6:00 PM. He will head over to the museum lawn to light the tree.

Local Business Marketplace, and live music, ensuring fun for all age groups. Many of the shops in Old Town Manassas will be open late for your holiday shopping.

Ice Rink: The ice skating rink at Harris Pavilion will be open.

Owners Emily Hamby and Morgan Ulisse released a statement on this journey of their relationship and how it has grown through this endeavor:

“Adding Morgan to the Honey and Ivy team was hands down the best decision I’ve made so far” says Emily. “We quickly became friends and bonded over the hardships of finding safe gluten free food in restaurants and bakeries. Having Morgan on board we are able to accept way more custom orders and I have been able to spend time doing market research to find the best location for our storefront.”

Opening a storefront has been Emily’s goal from the beginning. “I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was so lucky to have many dedicated gluten free restaurants and bakeries close to home. I was shocked when I moved to NOVA because of the lack of options. I have Celiac Disease, so I have to be extra careful to not have any cross contamination. That unfortunately means I rarely get to dine out because most places are not safe for me.”

“Living in a new city and not being able to go out and meet people, I knew that Manassas needed a place where people with dietary restrictions could safely eat and build community with each other. And that is exactly what Honey and Ivy has grown to!”

“We’re so excited to open our doors and invite everyone in!” Morgan joins in. “Honey and Ivy is much more than a bakery. I think people will be surprised at all of our options when they first visit. Obviously we have delicious baked goods, but we also have gift items from some of our farmers market friends!”

“It really is all about the community,” Emily adds. “Food is such a central part of any gathering. That is something that people with Celiac or food allergies often miss out on. Getting more involved in the Manassas community through farmers markets, committees, and networking made us realize that Old Town Manassas was the perfect spot for our first brick and mortar location!”