The Dream That Wouldn’t Quit
There’s a certain kind of story that smells like butter and ambition — and on James Island, it’s wafting out the door of Girl Nextdough.
Caitlin Schumacher has been dreaming of this moment for 30 years. Her dad, John McCormick — a lawyer who once almost became a chef — has been quietly dreaming it, too.
Together, the pair opened Girl Nextdough in September, transforming a cozy Maybank Highway spot (the former LB Sweets & Treats) into the kind of bakery that feels both new and instantly familiar.
From Food Truck to Full Bloom
If you followed Schumacher’s original Girl Nextdough food truck back in 2021, you already know this story has roots.
What started as a side project for the former FIG pastry chef quickly turned into a James Island sensation — long lines, early sellouts, the whole sweet show.
Now, those lines have simply shifted from pavement to pastry case.
3 A.M. Starts, 8 A.M. Glory
Inside the shop, the vibe is grab-and-go but full of heart. Schumacher and McCormick are up before 3 a.m., whisking, rolling, and proofing their way toward opening time.
By 8 a.m., the shelves glisten with croissants, muffins, doughnuts, and homemade Pop-Tart lookalikes that taste like childhood got a pastry degree.
The menu rotates with the seasons — one week might bring an apple-cider cronut, the next a pumpkin-cream Pop-Tart.
And for the savory crowd? Sourdough bagels. A turkey club sandwich that locals are already whispering about.
Coffee, With Character
Even the coffee has personality.
Schumacher’s former FIG colleague Sam Sidwell runs the coffee program — a creative lineup that includes rosemary espresso spritzes and strawberry iced lattes made with berries slow-roasted in-house.
No espresso machine? No problem. Girl Nextdough proves you can do small-batch caffeine with big flavor.
A Bakery After My Own Heart
As someone who’s never met a locally-owned bakery I didn’t like (seriously, my Instagram bio says Donut Savant), this one hits differently.
It’s got that mix of polish and heart that defines Charleston’s best food stories — where a dreamer with a rolling pin and a dad with a vision end up building something that feels like home.
🕗 Hours: Thursday–Sunday, 8 a.m.–noon
📍 Location: 1939 Maybank Highway, James Island
🌐 girlnextdough.com
