Gabby Pacelli - Pacelli's Bakery

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's Bakery, Rocky Mount'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'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've tasted one of her creations, you already know: for Gabby, sourdough is a living thing, and cake batter is "just a formula at the end of the day — but made with love."We dig into what she'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't serve anything she isn'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're a regular from her pop-up days, a bagel lover who'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't want to miss.