Meet the Owner: Demetra Sirica of Giftalicious

In just a little over a year, Douglaston’s Giftalicious has been transformed from a bakery to a café, gift shop and neighborhood hot spot.

Owner Demetra Sirica said the store, located at 40-39 235th St., still offers the same goodies and services it provided at the time of its summer 2011 debut. But the eatery has since expanded into a full-service café that serves breakfast and lunch, a local spot to hold children’s parties and a delivery service.

“It’s still the original plan for the store, but with a café added,” Sirica said. “Our store has become a meeting place in the community. People can buy anything from jewelry to a muffin or a pizza under one roof. Everything comes complimentary gift-wrapped and it’s a fun, friendly atmosphere.”

Giftalicious’s breakfast and weekend brunch menu include everything from eggs and French toast to omelets, home fries, scones, croissants and artisanal bagels.

For lunch, visitors can try one of the café’s four types of hot and cold sandwiches: chicken, meat, vegetarian or salad. Giftalicious also serves pizza, health wraps and various types of salads, including Romaine and mesclun.

Customers with a sweet tooth will want to try the bakery’s gourmet brownies, cakes, cupcakes and cookies.

Sirica said the café now has a dedicated following in the community.

“We definitely have our regulars,” she said. “Or people come in and out of Douglaston on the train. They come back and bring their friends.”

The store also throws themed parties for children, such as scavenger hunts, birthdays and princess parties. For parties, the cost starts at $8 per child.

Sirica said the store is broken up into three sections: the café, seasonally-themed gift baskets and party favors, balloons and flowers.

Sirica said the store switches out the theme for its gift baskets each month.

“Every month, we do baskets, cookies and platters that go with the theme,” she said. “Right now, we have a whole line of holiday baskets, chocolates and desserts – holiday Yule logs, marzipan, cupcakes and cookies. We also have holiday-roasted marshmallows.”

Giftalicious also delivers and offers free Wi-fi. In months to come, it will gradually offer catering menus for smaller events, such as birthday parties, holidays and brunches.

“We work with any budget for any event,” Sirica said. “We’re from the neighborhood, we live in the neighborhood, we work in the neighborhood and we cater to the neighborhood.”

Giftalicious is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call 718-225-1925.