Cake Works Exits Washington Avenue

On December 23, only one day before neighbor , Cake Works, at 700 Washington Avenue, also made its exit from Prospect Heights.

The store, which sold cake decorating and party supplies and taught classes on icing cakes and molding fondant, was owned and operated by Midwood resident Lynette Clarke for five years. After graduating with high honors from the New York Restaurant School (now the Art Institute of New York City), Clarke worked in the baking and dessert industry for 18 years before setting out on her own.

Clarke was baking wedding cakes and other treats for special occasions – “I can do it all, I’ve done it all, I’ve studied it all,” she said.

“I had been doing cakes from home, and eventually I got a loan and I opened my own shop,” she said.

Her nephew helped her find the Prospect Heights storefront, and Cake Works was born. Clarke said she was very happy with the immediate support from the neighborhood. 

But, three years ago, the hustle and bustle of the city became too much, and Clarke packed up and moved to Stroudsburg, PA. Her store remained open, and she commuted about two hours each way to work at the store. 

“It was little too crowded in the city for me. It’s quiet out here,” she said.

Still, the long commute was tough and Clarke began to think about her future.

“I always on the road or at the store, and I had no time for myself,” Clarke added. So she decided to close up her Washington Avenue store, take her business online, and look towards a new venture in Pennsylvania.

“I haven’t closed the store, I’m just relocating it, is what I like to say,” said Clarke. I’ll still sell products online, it will be the same store, but I want to re-open as a storefront, also.”

Of course, her neighbors and regular customers were sad to hear she was leaving Washington Avenue after five years in the community.

“They weren’t too happy,” she said. “There aren’t that many stores like this around anymore. But they understood that I had to commute. 

“It was a bittersweet feeling to leave, but change is always happening. I love and appreciate all of my customers, and I look forward to the future.”

Cake Works’ new website will be up soon at www.cakeworksusa.com. In the meantime, Lynette Clarke can be reached at cakeworksusa@aol.com.