Dulceology to close Federal Hill storefront May 17, online orders continue

Federal Hill is set to lose one of its most recognizable sweet stops, as Dulceology closes its storefront at 1138 S. Charles St. on May 17 after six years in business. The pink corner shop became a familiar part of South Baltimore’s food scene, drawing regulars for alfajores and other Latin American-inspired treats that gave the block a distinct identity.

The closure ends the brick-and-mortar chapter for sisters Alejandra and Nicole Leiva, who opened the bakery in 2020. Their business started much earlier, in 2013, as an online Etsy shop selling alfajores, the dulce de leche-filled sandwich cookies that Dulceology says are enjoyed throughout Latin America and the world. George Washington University profiles described the Baltimore storefront as a roughly 2,000-square-foot corner shop intended to serve as the company’s headquarters and primary baking facility, and the business won $35,000 in cash prizes in GW’s 2019 New Venture Competition.

In a message to customers, the Leivas said opportunities in California are pulling them away from Baltimore, making it increasingly difficult to keep running the shop with the same level of care and intention. The storefront closing does not mean the brand is disappearing entirely. Online alfajore orders will continue to ship nationwide, keeping the business alive even as the Federal Hill location goes dark.

The final weekend open will run Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, with the bakery promising shelves stocked with customer favorites and classics for a farewell celebration. For Federal Hill, the loss is more than the disappearance of a pastry counter. It removes a small but visible piece of the corridor’s character, a storefront that stood out on South Charles Street and gave regulars a place to stop for something unmistakably tied to Latin American flavor.