Owner Celia Kallenborn comes from a family of local entrepreneurs, and stepped out on her own by opening the cake, cookie and cupcake bakery on Bothwell Street in February of 2015.
On February 21, 2016, Celia Kallenborn, the owner of Sweet C’s Bakery in downtown Palatine will be celebrating her first year in business. The boutique bakery is located in the heart of downtown Palatine at 10 N. Bothwell Street.
Kallenborn is no stranger to knowing what it takes to grow a successful business; her father is the owner of Mexico Uno, a Mexican restaurant that has been open since 1989, and is located around the corner from the bakery on Brockway Street just north of Palatine Road.
An uncle and her parents originally opened Mexico Restaurant in Des Plaines prior to 1989, when her parents decided to open their own location in Palatine. Now, Kallenborn’s sister runs the Des Plaines business and her other siblings work at Mexico Uno.
Since her early years, Kallenborn bussed and waited tables for her family business, and learned the value of creating relationships that develop into loyalty from customers.
“My father’s advice to me since day one was to provide a quality product and be good to my customers; it’s simple, but something I have strived to to since I opened Sweet C’s,” Kallenborn said. “The goal, always, is to ensure my customers leave happy.”
Kallenborn said she makes a point of personally speaking with every customer about their order, whether it be a specialty cake, cupcakes or cookies. And it appears her focus on solid customer service is building the Sweet C’s brand as the business continues to grow and thrive.
“What I think is special about what we do, is that we are a part of milestone events in the lives of our customers,” Kallenborn said. “A child’s first birthday, a wedding or a baby shower, and bar and bat mitzvahs are all times to be remembered, and we are honored to be a part of those days.”
‘Baby reveal cakes’ are what Kallenborn calls a new and popular unveiling for parents- to-be, where the sex of a baby is announced through the color and design of the cake at a baby shower.
“Basically myself, the doctor and the parents are the only ones who know if the baby will be a boy or girl,” Kallenborn said. “It’s a real privilege.”
Smash cakes are also a specialty for young children’s’ birthday parties, as well as re-creating wedding cake toppers for couples who didn’t save them from their wedding, or would like to renew their vows.
Other events include corporate parties, going away parties and any other type of celebration. Sweet C’s also offers catering packages.
In addition to original designs, pictures can be printed on edible paper and transposed onto to cookies and cakes. Cupcakes have become more popular for event desserts because they offer a way for customers to provide a variety of flavors for their guests to enjoy.
“We’re not trying to be the jack of all trades, I’m working to be the best at what we are good at.”
To celebrate Sweet C’s first anniversary on Sunday, February 21, one free cupcake per person will be given out between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Visit www.SweetCsbakery.com for more information.