Three years ago, Moraima González began working as a home baker in addition to her full-time job working for the state. Now, she runs her own bakery and café.
Cakes by Moraima & Café, located at 443 Cumberland St., opened July 2. Since then, González says, business has been booming.
“I don’t know how many clients we get in every day, but I know it’s been very good for sales,” she said. “It’s been so busy every day, especially last Saturday (July 10). People are happy talking about our breakfast, our cakes.”
The café’s menu features all-day breakfast items, sandwiches, coffee and other drinks, and of course desserts.
González noted that she keeps the menu small so she has more time to work on custom cakes. She completes two or three custom orders most weekdays, and more on Saturdays.
“I was looking for something quick and easy (for the menu), so we decided for sandwiches, quesadillas, something like a small menu so we can work better with the cakes,” said González. “If we do a large menu I’m not going to have time for my cakes.”
While González has been home-baking for three years, she first began considering making it her full-time career around a year ago. Soon after she and husband Carlos began looking for a rental space for a bakery and café.
“I was talking to my husband and then we said, we have a lot of clients, different kinds of clients, so if we open a small place the people can go and order the cakes and also take a good coffee,” explained González.
Eventually González found the Cumberland St. location, former site of All That and a Bag of Chips, and looked into renting it out.
“When I saw the rental sign, I said, ‘The bakery will be perfect in this spot,'” González said, noting that the space’s layout was well suited for her plans. “We love the location because it’s between Cumberland and 5th Street.”
When setting up Moraima Cakes & Café, González kept the space mostly the same, primarily adding decorations and personal touches.
Since opening, González says she has received glowing messages from customers about her new venture. She hopes that, if success continues, she will be able to open a second location in Palmyra or Lancaster a year or two down the line.
To keep updated on the café, follow its Facebook page or take a look at González’s custom creations on the cakesbymoraima Instagram.
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