It has been 15 days, 9 hours and 4 breakdowns (mine) since the Los Angeles outpost of BabyCakes NYC opened it's doors.
For those of you who were at the opening, I apologize if I didn't take time to chat. To be honest, I was holding back tears of gratitude all day and I knew if I looked any of you in the eye it would have tripped me to tears and there would have been mascara all over the cookie sandwiches. I wasn't prepared for how emotional the opening was going to be. When the butcher paper came down from the window, it hit me that this was a big day for me and you. The day went by quickly and there were plenty of first timers checking it out, a great deal of New York transplants yearning for their old favorites, and so many parents on a mission to treat their child to their first donut or cookie or cupcake top. It was magic.
If you've had time to swing by the LA bakery yet, you'll notice that it's a unique emanation of the New York bakery. Although we wanted to recreate what we have in New York, we knew it was crucial to let this bakery be free to be itself. We wanted it to have it's own life and personality so we just let it flow. This bakery's got more room than New York--4 tables and chairs to rest your weary legs and a gasp-inducing vintage oil painting of two poodles with bouffants (thank you Bridget!). Of course we have Stumptown Coffee.
Since the opening, we've been logging long hours to get the bakery working as efficiently as possible. In the meantime, hundreds of people have schlepped downtown and many have taken to their blogs to report. Some love us, some hate us. But at the end of the long work day--it's the tearful parents that pull me aside to say thank you, and group of vegan kids munching in the front, and the celiac in the corner documenting her first donut in 14 years that make it so much more than worth it.
I guess I just want to take a minute to say thank you to everyone for tweeting, blogging, yelping, and simply talking to your friends about us. You are the real reason we are able to grow and your positivity and support are what keep us going. For real. Love you guys!!!
