Behind the Bakery – SusieCakes Sets to Open East Bay Location
Susan Sarich – the “Susie” behind SusieCakes – said it’s not just about the pastries and treats at her locations. It’s also about the people and the community.
“I always make sure to research possible locations before even discussing a move. It’s really about the community. We want to be fully integrated in our neighborhood and have a real connection within the community,” said Sarich.
And that’s part of the reason for the franchise’s first shop in the East Bay, which is opening Saturday, October 27 in Lafayette. It will be the fourth location in Northern California and eighth overall in the state.
The shops are very retro in nature from the color scheme and design to the days and hours of operation. “We are closed on Sundays. For me, being in the hospitality industry, I wanted to bring in female pastry chefs if at all possible. But I also know how important it is to spend time with family and loved ones. So we try to prioritize that with all our employees, giving them Sunday for a family day.”
Many of the creations at SusieCakes come from her grandmother’s recipes, on old cards and handwritten sheets of paper. Sarich said she wanted the bakeries to be unique so everything is made from scratch on site and at each location, there is a customization desk with hundreds of options to choose from.
Sarich has already met with members of the Lafayette community, particularly women’s groups, to figure out what they would like to see from the bakery, in terms of menu items and possibly baking classes. She also picks a food bank or charity to donate leftover goods to at the end of each day.
When asked about the SusieCakes Bakery franchise, Sarich said she knew it was something she always wanted to do – from the time her first store opened. She’s doing things the right way and in her own way and having a lot of fun at each and every stop.
The Lafayette store opens with a Sock Hop party on Saturday, October 27 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and is located at 3598 Mt. Diablo Boulevard. SusieCakes also has Bay Area locations in San Francisco, Greenbrae and Menlo Park.
Photo Credit: SusieCakes Bakery
