We have signed a long-term agreement with Bel Air Plaza situated at the northwest intersection of 120th and Center.

It was selected due to its nearness to interstates 680 and 80, and being within 4 miles of our current location.

Furthermore, the leasing cost will enable us to maintain reasonable prices.

When you move, you pick up your belongings and place them in a new location. Most of us think of it as moving from one house to another.

When you move, you don't typically need to tear down all the interior walls and replace them with new walls, all your plumbing, electrical, heating/air conditioning, ceilings, put in new bathrooms, and a kitchen.

In other words, you typically don't gut the interior and start over from scratch.

When you relocate, especially a bakery, it typically involves redoing everything we just went over.

Not only is there no quick fix, it's expensive. Especially in today's economy.

An easy way to understand the timeline for building a bakery is to compare it to planning, building, and launching a restaurant.  

A typical restaurant takes 4–6 months to build, yet that doesn't account for site selection, planning, and other variables. In Omaha, merely getting your building permit can take 2 months.

Then, factor in labor shortages and you can tack on another 2 months.

We need to be out May 30th. That leaves us very little time. That's why it's so frustrating.

It appears we'll be closed for around 4-6 months.

If we had received a 1 year's notice, we could have had the new bakery built and ready within only a single week of being closed.

Yes, we will continue to sell as many "My Goodie Cards" (yes we are still going to give you 15% more than you paid for) as possible. The fact is, we need to sell more.

Here's why.

It has been determined we cannot relocate the large commercial oven we use, because it was used as an incentive to renew our lease to stay in the plaza around 45 years ago.

In addition, around 20 years ago, the then owners of the plaza purchased us a large freezer as an incentive to renew our lease.

Since both of those pieces of equipment are legally owned by the current owners of the plaza, we'll need to replace them for our new location.

Between the two pieces of equipment, we need to sell another $50,000 in cards.   

Please, let's continue to support each other.

Your concern is exactly the concern we explained to the owners of our shopping plaza who kicked us out.

They unapologetically said it was our problem. Therefore, they would not offer us an extension of time.

More to your question; although it could take up to January 1, 2025 to reopen, we are renting commercial kitchen space to bake, decorate, and deliver your wedding cake.

While we won't have the means to create everyday custom cakes in the rented kitchen, we'll definitely meet our obligation to our brides.

Naomi, our manager, promises you'll be taken care of. If you have any concerns, please call her. 

This question will be answered in two parts.

First, we need to understand the mindset of someone wanting to start a bakery or cake boutique.

The reality of launching and managing a family bakery, or one of our size, isn't about chasing wealth.

Rather, it's driven by an innate creative passion that permeates every aspect of your being. It literally oozes out of your pores.

It's the love for the craft, the fulfillment of creative expression, and the belief that others will cherish your tasty and artistic creations.

It's certainly not about the fantasy of becoming wealthy or having $400,000-$600,000 in a bank account, just in case your current landlord decides after 57 years he'd rather trade you in for a new girlfriend (Westlake Hardware); metaphorically speaking, of course.

Second, we need to add perspective by looking at a little history.

The bakery initially began in November 1966. My father, Josef Otto, started it with $15,000.

Over the years, we slowly expanded as we took over other empty bays. The cost to expand was low. As employees, we did the construction to save money. We didn't need much money to expand.

However, to relocate in 2024 is an entirely different ballgame. Our profit margins are not high enough to facilitate such a move.

Since I mentioned profits, it's important to note that forty years ago, a pivotal decision was made to operate The Cake Gallery as if it were a non-profit. 

Our mission has always been to generate just enough profit to cover expenses with a modest surplus for unforeseen circumstances.

It has never been more or less.

This mission remains unchanged. Should you graciously assist us in relocating The Cake Gallery, we will continue  operating with a non-profit ethos, striving to keep prices as low and reasonable as possible.

In case you didn't know, neither Dakota REIT or Westlake Hardware offered any financial assistance.

It's all been up to us, you, and the wonderful citizens and companies in Omaha and the surrounding communities.

The minium was $147,000. We have met the goal for now.

For everything beyond that, we'll be able to upgrade the front of the store and baking equipment.

Here's how we arrived at that number. Depending on several factors, the minimum total build, which is another way of saying the lowest, is about $400,000.

The cost of building anything, especially when it comes to the commercial side of the equation, is crazy expensive.

Right now, between savings accounts, getting a couple of loans and a few close friends, we have $203, 000.

Plus, we have 14 commitments from businesses who have been long-time buyers of our ULTRAmoist cakes. They are buying anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 worth of prepaid cards.

Now, we need your help and everybody you know that loves Cake Gallery's ULTRAmoist cakes. Together, we can rebuild what two billion dollars companies have taken away.  

Though this should be a personal and inside business matter, I believe it's important for you to know in order to support our relocation.

In brief, the answer is yes. I will remain as the driving force.

For the long haul, we've devised a strategy to ensure The Cake Gallery continues to thrive for decades to come.

Here are the details:

Well before that "not-so neighborly" billion-dollar company that acquired Westgate Plaza, we were laying the groundwork for a succession plan to sustain The Cake Gallery. 

Our intention is to pass the torch from my immigrant family to the immigrant family of Naomi Huerta Jamerson, who has served as our General Manager for the past six years.

Naomi will uphold the tradition by operating the bakery as closely to a non-profit as possible.

When the time for this transition arrives, our Cake Gallery community will be the first to know, so we honor the respect you've shown us.

I believe Go Fund Me is a great platform. However, it does not fulfill our mission.

In place of asking for cash donations, we would like to use a "Neighbors-supporting-Neighbors" initiative by offering prepaid "My Goodie Cards."

That way, you have two options.

You can purchase prepaid "My Goodie Cards" and never use it/them, which is the same as making a cash donation.

Or, you can purchase prepaid "My Goodie Cards" and use it/them after May 1 of 2025, to purchase our bakery products.

In return, we'll add 15% to your cards as our appreciation for being part of our Neighbors-supporting-Neighbors initiative.

That way, all of us come out ahead as neighbors doing a favor for each other; the way it should be.

Let's start by restating why we are offering the cards.

The primary goal of the "Neighbors-Supporting-Neighbors" initiative is to generate the funds we are short to cover our relocation expenses.

The plan is for you to assist in support of our relocation, by purchasing "My Goodie Cards." Then, using those funds to build the new bakery.

Then, after May 1st of next year, we'll return our appreciation of your support by giving back more than what you paid. 

Let's review the initiative itself.

When you purchase "My Goodie Cards," you are agreeing to wait until May 1st of next year, before you begin using them.

For your genorosity, we'll add an extra 15% to the card's value for FREE.

That's like enjoying a one-year CD offering a15% return.

Upon purchase, you'll receive an email receipt confirming your purchase, indicating the monetary value, and assuring you'll receive your card(s) via regular US mail before our reopening.

Please be sure your home or office address is accurate.

Questions? Contact Ed directly: 402-968-2758.

Thank you.