Ann Arbor's Cake Nouveau is moving from downtown to Morgan & York building
Cake Nouveau Owner Courtney Clark prepares her new location at 1942 Packard St. for her shop's big move. The cake shop is expected to relocate from its Kerrytown location within the next five months.
Photo courtesy of Cake Nouveau
Ann Arbor’s Cake Nouveau is moving from the Kerrytown area of downtown to 1942 Packard St., a property it is leasing from soon-to-be neighbor Morgan & York.
“We’re just expanding, so our cakes can expand, too,” owner Courtney Clark said. “My goal is just to take on more.”
The new facility is more than twice as big as its current location at 206 N. Fourth Ave., which Clark said isn’t big enough to accommodate demand for cake orders.
“We’re saying no to 8 out of 10 cakes right now,” she said.
Clark’s cake-designing skills have been featured on national television, including several episodes of the Food Network Challenge and TLC’s Ultimate Cake-Off.
Cake Nouveau Owner Courtney Clark is relocating her cake shop to Packard Street.
Office Manager Sarah Mayfield said the shop has hired two new employees in preparation for the bigger facility, which she says will feature more seating and possibly more cupcake varieties and other pastries for retail customers.
“It’s just going to be more of a bakery,” she said.
Though Clark said she is concerned the move out of the downtown could hurt business, she said she’s hoping her loyal customers will follow her. She said the new shop is located in a more residential area and is in a space that now has free parking.
“I think that our customers are most excited about that,” she said. “They won’t have to park blocks away.”
Specialty food shop Morgan & York said having two independent, destination businesses next to each other should also help boost business. The shop is known for its extensive wine selection but also specializes in high-quality cheeses, deli meats, coffee and pastries. Manager Sean Hartwig said he is excited about the store's new neighbor.
“Imagine being able to sit down with a cupcake with your daughter or son or niece or nephew and a nice cup of coffee,” he said. “It’s exciting to have another independent, small business next to us.”
Clark’s husband Kendon Smith, who is assisting in the move, said there is still a lot of work to be done before the Packard location is ready.
For more information on Cake Nouveau, visit AnnArbor.com's restaurant guide.
Comments
annarbortownie
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 6:01 p.m.
Too bad for Morgan and York. Cake Nouveau makes cakes that look like play dough and don't taste much different. The cakes/cupcakes taste like artificial flavoring is used. It is an over pretentious place. I have never understood the big appeal. On the few occasions I stopped in the shop the owner acted like she was doing the public a favor vs the the other way around. No loss to downtown.
racerx
Thu, Jan 21, 2010 : 1:36 a.m.
How great! Saturday I just picked up cupcakes for my daugthers birthday, while getting a haircut downtown. But, I live off of Packard in Pittsfield Twnshp and past Morgan & York everyday to work! Not to mention that I brought $80 in liquor for New Years at M&Y too! So, having another destination place OTHER than downtown is all good! I'd much rather used those extra dollars for parking in those businesses.
Ryan Munson
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 11:36 p.m.
Yes. A great loss to the downtown. Looks like they'll have customers nearest the new corridor they are entering. Unfortunately I won't be making it out that way either to often.
A2WestSide
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 10:39 p.m.
A loss for downtown. Unfortunately, we will not make it to the new location. All luck to you.
uawisok
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 6:05 p.m.
I wonder what cupcake would go with my favorite bourbon I also buy there??
Myra Klarman
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 12:41 p.m.
Great for the neighborhood! Not so great for my waistline;)
citrus
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 11:35 a.m.
One stop shopping for so many dietary vices: wine, beer,high voltage coffee, chocolate (don't forget Sweet Gems in there), cheese, cake, and of course, BACON. So bad, so good!
mibadger
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 11:33 a.m.
I can't wait for the move! I have never been to Cake Nouveau because I don't live and circulate downtown and don't like to deal with the hassle of parking there just for a quick stop at a store. And the Packard location is great, as Packard gets a lot of traffic from people travelling to and from the downtown area from the Southeast side of AA.
gstrat
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 10:41 a.m.
im definitely stopping by when they open their new place. morgan & york wine scientists plus the best specialty cake/cupcake shop around seems like the perfect place to show my out-of-towner friends when they come in to a2. and i've been wanting a place for drinks and dessert for awhile now...
Foodie01
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 10:37 a.m.
I'm very sad Cake Nouveau is moving out of downtown. I like Morgan & York a lot, but Packard is just out of the way for those of us who live and circulate around downtown. I never seem to get there. Certainly it won't be part of my routine anymore to drop in while shopping at the farmers market or co-op.
Tom Joad
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 9:32 a.m.
The cup cake fad is nearing its end
A2K
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 7:53 a.m.
Courtney and staff did the cupcakes from my 2008 wedding and they were gorgeous and DELICIOUS *got lemon-vanilla, chocolate-raspberry, and green-tea varieties...mmm* That aside, this is another great excuse to visit Morgan & York now that Cake N. will be next door -- seriously go try the Racelette salami, garlic sausage, and Caliente Pillar Salami at Morgan-n-York - you will just DIE of satisfaction.
momzilla
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 6:52 a.m.
I will love the new location. Welcome to the neighborhood!