How it Started
Scola’s Italian Cookies began the way many beautiful traditions do: in the heart of a family kitchen.
It all started around Christmas time in 2012. Joe’s mother, lovingly known as Nani Linda, wanted to bake cookies for the holidays — something she’d done for decades. Joe had recently sold his liquor store and found himself with some free time, so he stepped into the kitchen to help his mom carry on the tradition.
One afternoon, their oldest daughter, Linda, walked in just as Joe remarked, “No one makes Italian cookies for people to buy anymore.” That one comment lit a spark. Linda quickly created a cute graphic and posted it online to see if anyone wanted to place an order.
From that spontaneous moment — generations in the kitchen, a little holiday magic, and a single post shared with love — something much bigger began to grow. They started baking for family events, then weddings, and soon, full holiday orders. Their home filled with trays and tables — every surface covered in cookies. With just two ovens and the entire house transformed into a workspace, it was clear they had something special.
By 2019, the demand was more than a home kitchen could handle. Joe found a commercial rental kitchen in Independence, and the couple hauled ingredients and trays back and forth. Cookies were baked off-site, iced at home, and packaged wherever there was space. It helped — but it wasn’t sustainable.
When COVID hit in 2020, Joe and Dianna took to driving around the Northland each evening looking for space for a storefront. That’s when he spotted a small storefront that felt like it could be “the one.” In October of that year, the Scolas made the leap and began building a permanent home for their cookies. Equipment was ordered, family members pitched in, and with plenty of determination — and even a few windows removed to fit in the ovens — they opened their doors on December 11, 2020.
That first day was unforgettable. Customers lined up, thinking it was a pop-up. Cookies were sold by the pound, and by the end of the day, the shelves were empty. The next day, the shop had to close just to restock. But in true Scola fashion, the family rallied — cousins, aunts, uncles, everyone came to help. It was chaotic, joyful, and full of heart. Just like the business itself.
The People Behind the Pastries
Joe and Dianna Scola are the heart of Scola’s — a husband-and-wife team who turned a cherished family recipe into something even sweeter. Since opening the bakery, they’ve built a legacy rooted in tradition, love, and plenty of cookies.
Their daughter Paula Jo has been running the bakery since day one, managing daily operations while raising her young son, Joe Phil, who’s already part of the bakery’s charm — often seen in the photo shoots that decorate the shop’s walls. Her husband, TJ, is also an essential part of the team, always ready to jump in and help wherever needed.
Linda, their oldest daughter, has played a key role behind the scenes from the beginning, shaping the bakery’s brand and marketing. Now a mom of two girls, she continues the tradition with her daughters, who, like their cousin, have grown up in and around the bakery.
Their son Charlie made major contributions in the early years. Although he now supports from the sidelines due to a gluten allergy, he still helps with deliveries and steps in when needed.
The Scolas love carrying on their family traditions with the next generation, and when things get busy — especially around the holidays — the whole family pitches in. Mark, Donnie, Frankie, Carolyn, Tony, Robin, Jennie, Luci, and so many more are always ready to roll up their sleeves and help bring the magic to life. They’re joined by a loyal team who truly feels like family: Teresa, Katrinka, Cooper, Pam, Sophie and Kaylee.
Together, they create an atmosphere that’s warm, welcoming, and filled with laughter, love, a little chaos, and a whole lot of cookies.
Our Values
At Scola’s, we want you to feel one thing when you walk through our doors or take a bite our cookies: home. Our bakery is built on the values we live by every day — faith, family, love, and tradition. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you believe. What matters to us is creating a space where people feel welcomed, cared for, and part of something familiar.
This bakery isn’t just a business — it’s an extension of our kitchen table. We show up every day not just to earn a living, but to share something real with our community. Whether it’s a simple cookie or a wedding cookie table, everything we do comes from a place of love.
The Cookies & Their Stories
Many of our recipes are passed down through generations. Our signature white biscotti comes from Nani Linda and Joe’s Aunt Mary Margaret— a traditional recipe made by countless Italian mothers in Kansas City. We now scoop and roll them to keep every cookie consistent, but the spirit remains.
Other customer favorites? Total accidents. Our pistachio cookie was born from a tired, late-night mix-up by Joe — and now it’s one of our most popular items. Our cannoli cheesecake? Dianna accidentally ruined the top of a cheesecake on opening day, so she grabbed nearby cannoli filling, layered it on top, and gave it out as samples. It sold out that week and never left the menu.
Whether passed down or discovered by chance, every cookie has a story — and they’re all made with heart.
The Why Behind it All
We love sharing our Italian heritage and the joy of old-school hospitality with our Northland community. After years working in restaurants, we’ve seen just how connected this area is — it feels like a small town where everyone knows each other, and we feel lucky to be a part of it.
The community is everything to us. From church groups to weddings, school events to family gatherings, we’ve had the honor of baking for so many moments that matter. It’s grown beyond our own culture — we’ve made cannoli bars for multicultural weddings, partnered with venues across Kansas City, and become a part of traditions in families from all backgrounds.
One tradition especially close to the Scola family’s heart is the St. Joseph’s Table. For years, Dianna and cousin Frank have led the effort at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, honoring the beloved feast day with reverence and generosity. Thanks to the growth of the bakery, Scola’s now proudly donates all the cookies for the event. With each passing year, the table has expanded — feeding more people, raising more for those in need, and bringing the community closer together through faith, food, and tradition.
Those are the moments that remind us why we started this in the first place.
What Success Means to Us
Success isn’t just about numbers — it’s about meaning.It’s about being part of your milestones: weddings, holidays, new babies, and family dinners. It’s about the little girl who visits each week with her Nonna, and the family who finds comfort in the flavors that remind them of someone they love. It’s about connection — real, lasting, heart-deep connection.
We want Scola’s to be a place where people feel safe, known, and cared for — where the cookies are just the beginning of the story. This bakery is our love letter to family, faith, and tradition. And we’re honored to share it with you.
Welcome to the family.— Joe & Dianna Scola