When it comes to opening a new business, there’s a lot of labor and time that goes into this. Throw a pandemic into the mix, and you have yourself a whole new obstacle to overcome.
Cue in Haak’s Cakes, the newly opened bakery in the heart of Hamburg, whose business had to rearrange its operation before it even began. Haak’s Cakes was set to open shop with a celebration back in March, only to have news that businesses were to close due to the spread of Covid-19.
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In a recent interview with owner Stephanie Haak, we asked her how the outbreak has affected her business and the decisions she made amidst the uncertainty.
“In the beginning it was really intense.” She explained, “It was a difficult decision to make but I decided to join in the curbside pickup that was happening in the Hamburg neighborhood.”
“I think in a way though, it ended up helping my business because the community as a whole was super supportive and wanted to help each other out.”
Over the past few months, Haak has teamed up with other Hamburg businesses which have helped her business gain further exposure. These collaborations include ice cream sandwich creations with Main Street Ice Cream, a dessert pack with Fattey Beer Co., and weekly cupcake specials with Master’s Barbecue.
It is clear, that the pandemic wasn’t going to stop Stephanie Haak from living out her dream.
Growing up in a family with baking inspiration from her uncle, Haak always had an interest in baking and decorating. From attending culinary school, working at Chrusciki’s Bakery, and starting her own cake business, the next step in line was opening her own store front.
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Now open with official hours and walk-ins, Haak is transitioning the business into a more traditional form of operation with a greater variety of options for her customers.
When we asked her what her main offering is, she said “Cakes! I offer a bunch of other options but specialty cakes are what I specialize in.”
“When customers come in they can find cinnamon buns, cupcakes, cookies, specialty boxes and small cakes to-go.” She said, “The cinnamon buns on Sundays are always a big hit and the specialty boxes are a customer favorite.”
We had the pleasure of trying some of Haak’s goodies that she offers including her peanut butter, butter cream, and oreo cupcakes as well as her cinnamon buns. Her cupcakes have a perfect balance between moist cake and light creamy frosting. The cinnamon buns which are sold as a Sunday special are made with a smooth cream cheese frosting over a layered cinnamon bun. To make the buns even better, Haak also offers the option to add strawberries, oreos, or peanut butter cups as a garnish. As far as cakes go, Haak creates specialty cakes for all types of occasions, offering a variety of sizes and themes.
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Before leaving, we asked Haak what future plans she has in store for her business.
“I am really interested in continuing to add more items to the menu and experimenting with different options.”
For the latest updates on Haak’s Cakes, check out her Instagram and Facebook @haakscakes where you’ll find daily stories on Haak’s current offerings.
Haak’s Cakes
9 E Union St, Hamburg, NY 14075
(716) 601-5413
Hours: Monday- Closed, Tuesday- 10am-4pm, Wednesday- 10am-5pm, Thursday- 10am-6pm, Friday- 10am-7pm, Saturday- 10am-6pm, Sunday- 10am-2pm
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