A cakery that specializes in Basque cheesecake has opened its second location off Miramar Road.
The Cakery’s new bakery, called Cakery Café, which had a soft opening in late November and is now fully operational, sells its signature cheesecakes by the slice, as well as sandwiches, muffins, madeleines, canelés and other beautifully crafted, French inspired treats.
“Inspired,” because the bakery offers a Korean twist. The decor is soothing and minimalist, with polished black floors, bare white walls and quiet music. Some of the treats have ingredients found outside traditional French pastry preparation, including ube, black sesame, hojicha, Earl Grey and ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from Japan.
“When you walk in it legit feels you’re in Korea,” one Instagram user gushed, as videos of sandwiches, drinks and pastries rolled next to the praise.
A slice of plain cheesecake ($8) obtained for testing purposes stuck a balance between creamy and fluffy, with a sweetness that allowed the custard flavor to shine. A latte ($5.50) with beans from Los Angeles roaster Loquat Coffee was smooth and didn’t require sugar to cut bitterness.
The new bakery and cafe are at 7350 Trade St. The Cakery has another location in Carmel Valley, at 6142 Village Way, in the Pacific Highlands Ranch shopping center.
The owner, Eunjoo “EJ” Kim, started the business from her home during the pandemic. She shifted careers from teaching piano and conducting a church choir, she said in an Instagram post.
“The same way I had trained my ears, I was now training my nose and taste buds! A new passion was growing within me and I felt I had to take a chance and run with it.” she wrote.
A swanky bodega near Balboa Park
An “elevated” market is opening soon in Bankers Hill.
Its name offers a hint about its location and approach: Heavenly Bodega will open this month at 2765 Fifth Ave., next to St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral.
The market will be the first tenant to occupy that space, which is part of a relatively new mixed-use building named (and located at) 525 Olive.
The bodega’s Yelp listing says it will do triple duty as a boutique grocer, cafe and wine bar that serves bites.
“It’s a place where people can grab a perfectly crafted coffee, enjoy wholesome food made with care, and shop for premium everyday essentials—all under one roof,” the Yelp page says. “We’re more than a convenience stop. Our shelves and kitchen are thoughtfully stocked with high-quality products, artisanal ingredients, and prepared foods that make people feel good about what they’re enjoying and taking home. Whether it’s a morning latte, a fresh pastry, a handcrafted flatbread, or a bottle of wine for dinner, everything we offer is selected with intention.”
The cafe will have outdoor seating tucked into a courtyard next to the cathedral.
“We’re a group of longtime friends who’ve called Bankers Hill home for years. This neighborhood shaped us, and now we’re excited to give something back to the place we love,” the owners wrote in an Instagram post.
Popular secondhand shop opening soon in Oak Park
San Diego’s first Red White & Blue Thrift Store is hosting a grand opening on Thursday.
The shop, in Oak Park at 1655 Euclid Ave., will have a ribbon cutting at 8:45 a.m., ahead of its 9 a.m. daily opening time.
Shoppers can look forward to daily and weekly specials, more than 10,000 fresh secondhand items for sale daily, and items arranged by color and department, its website says.
“For over 60 years, we’ve redefined second-hand shopping by offering a spectrum of high-quality, affordable items, promoting environmental stewardship, and driving significant job creation,” its website says. The chain has around 30 locations across the U.S., including this one and one in Escondido.
Vacant ‘Lots’ to be filled
Another discount retailer is replacing the Big Lots stores that closed in Spring Valley and National City.
Burlington will take over both spaces. While opening dates haven’t been announced, the company is preparing to open both locations soon.
The stores, at 1410 E. Plaza Blvd., in National City and 633 Sweetwater Road in Spring Valley, will nearly double the chain’s South County presence. It already has stores in Chula Vista, National City and San Ysidro. With the new stores, the chain will have 12 stores throughout San Diego County. The chain is also adding several dozen other stores throughout California and the U.S.
Both locations are actively hiring: burlingtonstores.jobs