About the Team
Racheal
OwnerRacheal opened the original May’s Parlor at the Virginia Beach oceanfront in 2017, after honing her craft in hotels and restaurants along the East Coast and studying at the Culinary Institute of America and Old Dominion University. A Chesapeake native, she blends professional technique with a warm, approachable style—whether she’s creating pastries or teaching hands-on baking classes. When she’s not in the kitchen, she’s spending time with her husband and two little girls and dreaming up what to bake next.
Carrie
BakerCarrie has been part of the May’s Parlor family for over five years, bringing creativity, precision, and a love for beautiful pastries to the kitchen every day. Her love for baking started early, inspired by family traditions and countless Christmas cookies made alongside her parents. At May’s, Carrie especially loves working with doughs—from shaping pie shells and assembling pot pies to cutting and shaping cruffins, cinnamon rolls, and croissants. Quiche is one of her favorite things to make, and she has a special love for eye-catching desserts that play with color, texture, and seasonal flavors—especially citrus tarts, pavlovas, and fruit-forward sweets. When she’s not baking, Carrie is usually still in the kitchen, gathering family and friends around the table. Alongside her husband, Seth, she loves hosting dinners, themed gatherings, and finding new ways to bring people together through food.
Laura
BakerLaura has been part of the May’s Parlor family for the past three years, bringing creativity and curiosity to the kitchen. She especially enjoys the moments when the team gets to experiment with new desserts and recipes—creating something unexpected outside of the usual menu is one of her favorite parts of the job. Laura has always been drawn to working in the kitchen, finding a balance between precision and creativity in baking. While it can be challenging, she loves the way baking allows both structure and self-expression to come together. When she’s not at the bakery, Laura enjoys relaxing, spending time with her boyfriend and dog, and trying new restaurants around town. Her favorite thing to make? A thick, gooey cookie—warm, comforting, and always worth it.
Lauren
BakerLauren has been part of the May’s Parlor family for over eight years, bringing warmth, creativity, and a serious sweet tooth to the kitchen. Inspired by watching her grandma and aunties whip up homemade desserts, her love for baking started early—and only grew from there. At May’s, Lauren especially loves making cinnamon buns, but lemon bars and bread pudding are also favorites she can never quite choose between. Whether she’s helping create comforting classics or bakery staples, she brings care and attention to every bake. When she’s not in the kitchen, Lauren enjoys spending time with her pups and tending to her garden. She loves all things plants and finds just as much joy outside among the flowers as she does baking up something sweet.
Alyssa
BakerAlyssa has been part of the May’s Parlor family for four years and previously managed our Norfolk location before joining the Holland Road team. She enjoys the process of bringing recipes to life and is always excited to scale and work on something new in the kitchen. At May’s, Alyssa especially enjoys making cakes and cookies (and eating them, too), but she’s always open to trying new techniques and desserts along the way. When she’s not at the bakery, Alyssa enjoys thrifting for quality clothing and home décor, always on the lookout for unique finds and pieces she loves.
Katie
BakerKatie has been part of the May’s Parlor family for the past eight years, bringing both precision and creativity to the kitchen. Her favorite thing to make has always been pie—from perfectly flaky crusts to beautifully balanced fillings, she loves the process of creating desserts that feel both nostalgic and special. Katie graduated from James Madison University in 2016 with a double major in Mathematics and Statistics before earning her Master’s in Statistics from George Mason University in 2017. But following her true passion for baking, she returned to school to pursue a Baking and Pastry degree from The Culinary Institute of Virginia in 2018. These days, Katie is a full-time mom to her two boys, spending her time soaking up the joys (and chaos!) of motherhood. Though she’s currently taking a step back from the bakery, she will always be an important part of the May’s family and the sweet memories made along the way.
Our story...
Hi, I’m Racheal, founder, baker, and instructor behind May’s Parlor.
May’s Parlor began in 2017 as a small artisan bakery at the Virginia Beach oceanfront, built from a love of seasonal baking, thoughtful hospitality, and gathering people around good food. Over the years, what started as pastries and pies grew into holiday traditions, celebration desserts, and a community of customers who returned season after season. Along the way, I discovered that one of my favorite parts of baking wasn’t just creating beautiful things — it was teaching others how to make them. As life changed and my family grew, May’s evolved into something more intentional: a bakery studio focused on hands-on baking classes, seasonal preorders, and thoughtfully crafted pop-ups. Through The Bake Studio at May’s Parlor, I share the techniques, recipes, and joy of baking with others — from croissants and artisan breads to pies, pastries, and special seasonal favorites. At its heart, May’s Parlor has always been about slowing down, celebrating the seasons, and creating meaningful moments around the table. I’m so glad you’re here.
Our Bake Studio
What began as a small bakery at the Virginia Beach oceanfront has grown into something a little different—and maybe even sweeter. Today, May’s Parlor is a place for seasonal baking, gathering around the table, and learning the joy of making beautiful things by hand.