Family shares culinary passion through Crave It?

Last April, Melissa Plumley, her mother and her sister had made a major decision after a long period of deliberation. 

Life-long culinary creators, the Plumley girls decided they were going to go into a family business together.

Their vision, the Crave It? bakery, opened its doors a month later at the corner of East Lee Road and Wade Hampton Boulevard. 

"So far, business is good," Melissa said. "We've not really marketed it a lot yet. It's been mostly word of mouth." 

Melissa, 32, is partnering with her 54-year-old mother Kathy Plumley and sister, 28-year-old Amanda Melton, in the venture.

They are joined by 78-year-old Vera Jameson, Kathy's mother, and home-cooking guru, who runs the kitchen. The Plumley family boasts a lifetime of culinary experience.

Melissa has been cooking for roughly 10 years, with most of her experience coming at the Greenville Country Club. Kathy ran a specialty non-storefront catering business, "Kathy's Creations."  

"We are passionate about food," Melissa said. "We had faith that if we took that leap, it would work out." 

The Plumley family opened Crave It? on May 9 after a no small amount of soul searching.

Blending sweet treats with the hearty flavors of Jameson's family recipes, Crave It?'s menu showcases both desserts and more traditional southern fare. Their "meat and three" option includes items like chicken casserole, salmon patties and country style steak. Meanwhile, they boast a wide variety of cupcakes, from red velvet to carrot cake. 

"We base everything on family. Our family owns the business. Our family works here. My 78-year-old grandmother is in the kitchen. To my mom, to me," Melissa said. 

"Business is pretty good now," she added. "We're already starting to get regulars." 

Crave It? is located at 2728 Wade Hampton Blvd.