Canton bakery keeps on growing
CANTON — An expansion project is under way at Cindy's Cake Shop, 2738 Route 68, that will double the size of the shop's kitchen.
Owner Cynthia A. Murdie said her customer base continues to grow and she needs more space to prepare custom-order cakes, cookies, candy and other sweet treats.
The 12-by-36-foot addition means employees won't have to spend as much time moving cooling racks, metal carts and other equipment around, she said.
"It will make the kitchen more efficient," Mrs. Murdie said. "We'll have more storage shelving and another work table. We'll also be able to keep all our baking supplies at one end."
The extra space may allow the shop to offer a greater variety of candy and sweet breads, especially during the holidays, she said.
The addition will involve knocking out a rear wall, installing new flooring and applying fresh paint. The lobby area will offer more room because a cooler will be moved into the kitchen.
Paul Lytle, a Canton contractor, is handling the work and expects it to be complete within the next two weeks, Mrs. Murdie said.
Cindy's Cake Shop, originally on Miner Street, moved to Route 68 in 2001 when Mrs. Murdie built a one-story building for her shop. Besides herself, she has one full-time employee and one part-timer.
Sales of wedding cakes in the summer and early fall keep workers hopping and ovens baking.
"A typical Saturday in the summer involves making five wedding cakes and another 36 sheet cakes," Mrs. Murdie said. "On those days, I usually come in around 4 a.m."
Next summer, she may hire a part-time cake decorator to help during the busy wedding season, she said.
Mrs. Murdie also supplies wrapped cookies to 10 area stores and other businesses that sell them to their customers.
The shop also sells supplies for candy-making and cake decorating as well as Merckens chocolate, cake pans, helium balloons, party supplies and other items.
Cindy's Cake Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
