When Piece of Love opened at 6768 W. Lincoln Ave. in West Allis final February, it marked a milestone for native entrepreneur and cake baker, Ana Gonzalez, who channeled years of expertise into creating her personal brick and mortar retail store.
Following the opening, Gonzalez says it took a few 12 months for the store to achieve its stride. However as enterprise grew, she says, she was additionally capable of garner sufficient capital to cowl the prices of changing the unique retail store into the cake and occasional store that she’d needed to open from the start.
The transformation of the store occurred over a two month interval this summer season, with the majority of the most important work – together with the addition of latest plumbing and electrical – occurring on Sundays when the store was closed. Gonzalez was additionally capable of buy an espresso machine for the store, permitting her to supply a menu of espresso and espresso-based drinks.
Right this moment, friends will discover a vivid welcoming store with a wide range of seating choices, from conversational tables to informal gentle seating.
On the beverage menu, friends will discover providing like housemade smoothies made with recent frozen fruit ($4.25 – $5.20), agua fresca in flavors together with lemonade, jamaica (hibiscus), tamarindo, passionfruit, pink guava and strawberry jamaica lemonade ($2.70 – $4.89), blended frappes (cookie dough, dulce de leche, tres leche, cookies and cream, caramel mocha, $4.99 – $5.59).
Piece of Love additionally affords scorching chocolate, scorching or iced tea and a full espresso and espresso menu together with signature espresso drinks together with a tres leches latte and cajeta cinnamon latte ($4.99 – $5.59).
A bakery case on the counter can be stuffed with housemade objects together with muffins (cinnamon chocolate chip and blueberry), fruit tarts, cake pops, flan and a number of truffles in flavors like chocolate, carrot and tres leches.
Seasonal objects, together with autumnal objects like pumpkin cupcakes, are additionally obtainable with choices altering on a month-to-month foundation.
Along with the truffles bought from the case on the store, Piece of Love additionally affords a full complement of customized adorned truffles. Decisions will embrace vanilla, basic chocolate, strawberry, tres leches, butter pecan, crimson velvet or marble, in addition to fillings. Customized touches together with edible or recent flowers, collectible figurines, balloons or personalised cake toppers are additionally obtainable. Prospects can view the complete choice (and place orders) online or by calling thes store at (414) 233-9010.
Company may pre-order espresso, muffins and baked items for curbside pick-up on the Piece of Love website. Supply will even be obtainable via Grubhub and DoorDash starting subsequent week.
Gonzalez, who has at all times hoped to provide again to the group via her enterprise, says she can be working to companion with native non-profits in an effort to prepare campaigns to lift funds for his or her work. organizations are invited to succeed in out to her by e-mail at pieceoflovellc@gmail.com.
Shifting ahead, she want to launch on-line cake adorning lessons to share the entire information she’s amassed over time.
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It is taken endurance and onerous work, however Gonzalez says she’s blissful that is she’s been capable of transfer her enterprise ahead step-by-step.
“After I began, I needed all the things to be excellent from the start,” says Gonzalez. “However one of many greatest issues I’ve discovered is that it takes time.”
“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot assist from my household. They’ve helped me to check all of my recipes. And my husband has been wonderful. He refocused all of his vitality on the store for the primary 12 months we have been open in order that I may actually get located with out burning out.”
Comply with Piece of Love on Facebook and Instagram for updates!
Piece of Love is open Monday from 7 a.m. to five p.m., Tuesday via Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to five p.m.
