Gabby Pacelli - Pacelli's Bakery

<p>What happens when an engineer trades formulas for flour? On this episode of TC Spotlight, we sit down with Gabby Pacelli — founder and head baker of Pacelli&#39;s Bakery, Rocky Mount&#39;s newest artisan bakery — to talk about her leap from a career in engineering (she holds a Master of Engineering) into the craft of baking. Gabby shares how early days learning in her family&#39;s bakery planted the seed, how she built a devoted following through local markets and pop-ups starting in 2025, and what gave her the confidence to open her own storefront at 1137 Jeffreys Road in 2026. If you&#39;ve tasted one of her creations, you already know: for Gabby, sourdough is a living thing, and cake batter is &quot;just a formula at the end of the day — but made with love.&quot;We dig into what she&#39;s serving up — fresh sourdough, authentic bagels, delicate macarons, and gourmet pastries made with quality ingredients and traditional technique — and the high standards of someone who says she won&#39;t serve anything she isn&#39;t proud of. Gabby also talks about her vision for the bakery: a welcoming neighborhood spot where customers are known by name, conversations happen naturally, and every visit feels personal. Whether you&#39;re a regular from her pop-up days, a bagel lover who&#39;s picked one up before, or just curious what an engineer-turned-baker is cooking up in Rocky Mount, this is a conversation about passion, precision, and community you won&#39;t want to miss.</p>