By Susan Barnard

    If you drive down main street of Cortland, Nebraska on any given Saturday morning you will find a steady line out the door of Paper Moon Pastries, located just off Highway 77 between Lincoln and Beatrice. Its owner, Lindsey Oelling of Cortland, opened the 1930’s vintage-style pastry and coffee shop in May of 2022.
    Oelling, a licensed mental health therapist, said she’s always had the dream of owning her own pastry shop and has always loved baking, something that she did throughout her life with her grandma as well as her parents, Kent (the cookie master) and Lori (the pie baker) Oelling.  Lindsey had a vision for her venture. She wanted to create a place in the small town of Cortland, less than 500 people, where people could meet for a sweet treat, have a place to slow down and connect.  So she rolled up her sleeves and went to work, refurbishing an old hair salon on main street.
    A visit to Paper Moon Pastries certainly takes you back in time the minute you step inside. Oelling and  her staff of six are dressed in clothing that gives off the 1930’s vibe. In addition to the amazing baking smells that overtake your senses upon entering, big band, American style jazz and 1930’s swing music plays in the background. Oelling herself greets every single guest that enters, inquiring where they are from and what their plans are for the day. The dining area contains booths and tables where patrons can stay and visit while enjoying one of the homemade goodies over a cup of coffee. A hand-painted mural by Lindsey herself covers one wall. Inspired by her favorite movie, “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” Oelling recalls watching with her father the 1973 American comedy-drama film set in Kansas and Missouri during the Great Depression.  “Growing up, Dad and I loved going on road trips in search of diners, ice cream and antiques,” said Lindsey. Her love for history, baking, movies and old cars can be attributed to those road trips and time spent with her dad.
    The very first Saturday she opened back in 2022, she had no idea what the response would be. She baked 100 cinnamon rolls, a couple of cakes, a tray of cupcakes and a few batches of cookies. Her best friend, Sean Flattery, served coffee and Lindsey stood at the old-fashioned bakery display counter. And within 2 hours they were out of everything.
    Fast forward to 2024. It’s another Saturday morning and there’s a line out the door and down main street Cortland. Over 700 kolaches were baked for the day, along with over 500 homemade cinnamon rolls, pecan rolls, coffee cake, cupcakes, sour cream raisin and strawberry rhubarb pies, rice Krispie bars, cookies and more.  
    A customer orders two cinnamon rolls. Lindsey’s mom, Lori, takes the pan fresh out of a warm oven and places them on plates to serve. Lindsey and her staff are a well-oiled machine. Everyone knows their tasks, takeout boxes continue to be made as the steady pace of customers keep coming in the door. Three seniors from Norris High School are busy doing dishes, serving guests and refilling the display counter at the front of the store. Nearly all of the baked goods found at Paper Moon Pastries are gluten free and dairy free, a rare find for those who require special dietary conditions. Everything prepared at Paper Moon Pastries is handmade from scratch.
    Recently Paper Moon Pastries hosted a Savory Sunday, and served over 750 bierocks, a handheld and savory, beef-filled pastry featuring cabbage, onion, cheese and juicy ground beef. Oelling said she feels like she’s living her dream life, combining her artistic freedom with baking while having fun. “It doesn’t feel like work to me,” said Oelling. “I’ve gotten to know so many local people from Cortland with my business,” she continued.
    This fall, Paper Moon Pastries will be hosting their third annual fall festival and Once In a Blue Moon car show on main street of Cortland on October 12th from 8am to 3pm. There will be live bands, car show, a makers market featuring handmade items from 70 vendors, beer garden and chili contest. Paper Moon will be providing free cinnamon rolls to go along with the chili.
    Paper Moon Pastries has numerous social media platforms that Oelling creates the content and updates on a regular basis, including a Facebook page, Instagram, Tik Tok and website, www.papermoonpastries.com.
    The bakery, located at 325 West 4th Street in Cortland, is only open on Saturdays from 7am to 2pm and it’s best to get there early.