The sweet smell of cookies, cannoli, cakes and more fills the air inside Mount Vernon staple, Fleetwood Pastry Shop.

"We make everything fresh daily, every day," said Enzo Cutaia, who co-owns the shop along with his mother, sister and brother.

The little shop has been family-owned and operated for the past 27 years, when Cutaia and his mother spontaneously took it over from his godmother.

"I was 17 [or]18 [years old]...and I said, ‘Yeah, let's, let's try it,’" he explained. "So, we opened the business blind, not knowing anything about the business."

The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, the shop has blossomed into a mainstay in Mount Vernon, offering a variety of pastries catered to the city's diverse community.

"We have a little bit for everybody," said Cutaia. "Every culture, every background: the Jewish community; African Americans; the Italians; we spread it out. So, it's a place for everybody to come."

That includes the shop’s signature Lobster Tail pastry, a hit with customers from near and far.

"We have customers that drive from Jersey, Pennsylvania, Boston [and more] for that actual pastry," Cutaia explained. "We have it down to perfection. Not only do you get that crunch, but you [also] get that taste of cream that's not over-sweetened."

The shop's popularity with customers throughout the region also earned the Cutaia family the "Best Italian Bakery" award as part of Westchester Magazine’s 2024 Best of Westchester Awards.

Regardless of which pastry customers go home with, one thing that remains the same is the fact that each one is made from scratch with lots of love for the community.

"I love what I do," said Cutaia. "I still wake up every day at 5:00, wanting to come to work 27 years later. I enjoy the customer service. I enjoy making everybody happy. I love our customers. Without them, we wouldn't have anything."

Fleetwood Pastry Shop was originally founded at 561 Gramatan Ave. in Mount Vernon. The shop opened a second location in February 2023 at 57 Wheeler Ave. in Pleasantville.