in West End Commons specializes in custom cakes for all occasions.
Cartersville Patch recently sat down with owner Tera Gore to learn more about what her small business has to offer the community. Here's what we asked and she answered:
Q: Tell us a little about your shop. Do you call it a bakery?
A: We are a custom cake shop. We’re not a full service bakery, which doesn’t have to be a negative thing, because that means we specialize in what we do and do it to the best of our ability. We’re also a cupcake shop. Our custom cakes are our specialty. We do a lot of work with sugar art, fondant and gum paste, which you don’t get at most of the other bakeries around here.
Q: Who are your clients?
A: Anybody that’s planning an event, whether it be a birthday party, a wedding, a baby shower, a bridal shower, an anniversary or any kind of event that requires cake or cup cakes.
Q: If someone is looking for a special cake or cupcake display, what would be the procedure to follow?
A: Well, if they wanted to do some research online first, they could by looking up either our Facebook page or website and that would give them an idea of things we’ve already done, maybe help them decide on what they’re looking to do. If they want to come in and bring in their decorating scheme, like napkins, plates or colors we can help them design something based on their needs. They could know serving size, how many people they want to feed, the date of their event and we could start there with a design. We ask for 7 days notice.
Q: What about some of your cake and cupcake flavor options?
A: For cakes we have your traditional white, yellow, chocolate, marble, lemon, strawberry, carrot, red velvet, coconut, Italian cream, Hummingbird, Devil’s food and a wide range of frostings and fillings. For cupcakes we have strawberry shortcake, triple chocolate paradise, pineapple mandarin orange, lemon mouse, Oreo ball, Nutter Butter ball, strawberry white chocolate, peanut butter and jelly, banana split, spice cake, carrot cake and red velvet.
Q: What is Hummingbird?
A: Hummingbird has pineapples, bananas and pecans in it. It’s a great cake. It has a cream cheese-based icing.
Q: What’s are the most popular flavors?
A: On our custom cake, our most popular would probably be our white. On our dessert cakes, it’s gonna be our strawberry white chocolate cake and then our most popular cup cake is our strawberry shortcake.
Q: Tell us about the tasting process.
A: For brides-to-be we offer free tastings. They can pick up to two cake samples of their choice and we’ll provide those at no charge. They can either come in for a tasting and we can do a no obligation consultation or they can pick them up and take them home and we can do a consultation at a later date.
Q: Why did you open this shop?
A: I opened because I was doing this out of my home originally, and it just grew to be more. I thought we could do a storefront and we opened in August of 2009, which was at a horrible time in our economy and it has succeeded by staying open. So, I think we are a premier custom cake shop for this community, which I think has helped fill a void in this community.
Q: Why did you pick this location?
A: I love West End Commons. I think it’s an upscale outdoor shopping center, still in the suburb part of Cartersville and I think it offers a lot. We’re next to the schools. I love being next to the schools because that’s where the mom’s are.
Q: What's the best part of your job?
A: Interacting with people and celebrating their special events with them.
Next time you're in the market for a special occasion cake, stop by .
If you don’t need a cake but still want a treat, the store also has an assortment of baked goods in the front of the shop, such as gooey bars, cookie cakes, Rice Krispy treats, Oreo balls, Nutter Butter balls, hay stacks and chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies. Keep up with daily specials and mark downs on its Facebook page.
Store hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon.
