Jackie Southwell (left) explains the concept for Matthews Edible Art Cake Shop during a Feb. 27 ribbon cutting with the Matthews Chamber of Commerce. Dante Miller/MMHW photo
MATTHEWS – Edible Art Cake Shop has provided Charlotte with beautifully decorated treats for more than 25 years. Jackie Southwell, who has owned the shop for five years, opened a second store in Matthews during Labor Day weekend.
“A Realtor brought us down to Matthews, and I just fell in love with the community,” Southwell said. “I love the way downtown feels. I think it’s a real walkable community, family-orientated. I felt like it was the perfect place to start up a second location.”
Juggling two locations can be difficult. Southwell said she doesn’t have to worry about doing it all on her own.
“We have six experienced decorators that can step in and fill in whenever I’m not in neither location,” she said. “So, I like to be there in the mornings and come down here in the afternoons. It seems like a perfect way to balance the day.”
One of these experienced decorators is Amber Gutierrez. She used to work for Publix. After one of her co-workers decided to leave and help Southwell open the new location, Gutierrez followed suit.
“I grew up watching my mom make our cake when we were younger,” Gutierrez said.
The shop provides desserts for weddings, corporate events, quinceaneras, gender-reveals and other special events. Its cakes are made from scratch, using a Southern pound cake recipe that’s been around for more than 25 years.
“We are a custom cake shop – we don’t mass-produce cakes,” Southwell said.
Edible Art Cake Shop has built plenty of relationships over the years in Charlotte. By adding a new location, this cake shop hopes to build even more sweet memories and relationships in the near future.
Want to go?
Edible Art Cake Shop has locations in Matthews (130 Matthews Station St.) and Charlotte (2908 Selwyn Ave.). Visit www.edibleartclt.com for details.
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