Take 5 is a quick look into a small local business, complete with 5 photos & 5 questions for the owner. Brought to you by local photographers.
Allix Zemcik, Owner
Website: www.hello-cupcake.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hellocupcaketacoma
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hellocupcaketacoma
Tell me a little bit about your bakery and what makes it unique.
We pride ourselves on doing one thing really well, and that’s cupcakes! Our cupcakes are simple and classic, but never boring or forgettable. We pay great attention to every detail, from the way the cupcake tastes to how it’s assembled and decorated, with the hope that our cupcakes will stand out in our customers’ minds as the best they’ve ever had!
How did you come to own hello, cupcake?
I purchased hello, cupcake from the original owners in 2014. I started working at the shop in 2010 as a kitchen closer doing prep work, cleaning, and customer service, and worked my way up from there to decorator, baker, and eventually store manager. I clicked really well with the original owners and loved the vision they had for hello, cupcake, so it was a natural choice for me to take over when they were ready to sell the shop.
What is your most popular cupcake?
Red Velvet is our most popular flavor year round, but we have several other flavors that stand out during the seasons in which they’re offered. A few of the ones that come to mind are Salted Caramel, Cookie Dough, and Pink Champagne.
What is your favorite thing about the Pacific Avenue Business District you are a part of & what would you do to improve your district?
The area has grown a lot since I first started working at the shop! I love working with UWT and seeing all of the development they’re doing. A lot of new small businesses have opened on Pacific Avenue over the last few years, and I’m always excited to see what comes next.
I’m hoping to see more parking options around Pacific Avenue in the future! I know parking is a big challenge for our customers, and I’d love for it to be easier for them to visit the shop.
How do YOU experience Tacoma?
I actually don’t live in Tacoma, so owning hello, cupcake has really given me the opportunity to see parts of the city I wouldn’t have visited otherwise. I love going down to the Ruston waterfront on nice days and trying out new restaurants (and bakeries, of course!). Tacoma has so much to offer, I’m sure I’ll never run out of new things to do!
Interview and images by Effie Gurmeza, of Effies Photography
Check out more of Effie’s work here >
Website: www.effiesphotography.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/effiesphotography
Instagram: www.instagram.com/
Did you know that Hello, Cupcake is 10 years old this year?! Check out the Experience Tacoma calendar event and learn how you can celebrate with free cupcakes at the shop on Sunday, August 27!
