It’s always a day of sweat treats in Tonganoxie
Carlee Erickson has been baking for several years and had established a successful at-home business selling cakes for various celebrations, as well as other pastries.
But there was a point when the business was starting to outgrow the home.
With that success came the dream of one day opening a bakery.
The longtime Tonganoxie resident, after talks with her husband, Chuck, finally decided it was time to open a shop. Earlier this month, that dream became a reality — a rather popular one during the first few weeks of operations.
It’s a Sweet Treat Day Bakery opened at the beginning of the month at 528 E. Fourth St. and continues to be a popular spot for folks with a sweet tooth.
“I asked Carlee one day what she really saw herself doing, what gave her pleasure in terms of working,” Chuck recalled. “She said she liked to bake. We joked around that we would maybe start a bakery and slowly it took off from there.
“She’s been baking for friends and family for 20 years.”
And now, she’s baking for many more people.
The store offers cake balls, scones, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, pound cake and pies, along with coffee. The bakery’s east room is reserved for couples to pick out their wedding cakes.
The bakery, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 8 a.m.-noon on Saturdays, has had plenty of traffic early on.
Chuck, the bakery’s owner, said lines have run to the front door.
Asked what their most popular pastry was so far, they had a quick answer.
“The cinnamon rolls,” Carlee and Chuck said simultaneously.
The lemon pound cake also has been popular, as have the cupcakes topped with plenty of frosting.
The bakery has vibrant colors — turquoise, orange, lime green and pink — that welcome visitors to the establishment.
Hayle Daye is the bakery’s cake artist, while Holli Dunnagan does a majority of baking to assist Carlee, who is the head baker. Delia Rubio also works there.
Chuck and Carlee said they were excited to have so many loyal customers and a continued following on social media. The bakery’s Facebook page has seen a big jump in “likes” since the establishment opened.
“I tell our customers all the time we’re so blessed to have the support of this community and everybody who knows Carlee and I loves us and have been very supportive,” Chuck said. “And we could not have seen any of this without their support and love. It’s just a very cool thing.”
They were especially thankful for support from Carlee’s parents, Ted and Debbie Pantoja and to Monica Gee and Kara Reed “for their assistance in helping us really get our name out there,” Carlee said.