Thanks to Buffalo Rising for the story! FYI, Zillycakes is one word, and Dolci (not Dolce as written above) is at 732 Elmwood Avenue, just 3 blocks south of Zillycakes. One other small correction: I passed the zoning board in July to change my space from residential to commercial. This week my architectural plans and drawings are being submitted to City Hall; my opening date will depend upon how quickly they turn them around! In the meantime, I am conducting tastings and design consultations for events in 2009 from Dolci's retail space. I will continue to be available there until my space at 841 Elmwood Avenue is open. Please contact me if you have any questions about my project at 716-903-3405, or visit my website at www.zillycakes.com. On the "coming soon" page, you will find details of my progress on the opening of Zillycakes!

In response to some of the postings above, regarding whether we will sell cakes alone, and who might be buying (or not buying) my cakes: As is fitting of a studio, bout half of my business will be custom cakes, commissioned by customers for weddings, retirements, anniversaries, birthdays, bar/bat mitvahs, etc. During the week, during the day, my hours will be by appointment only. I have an degree in teaching as well as fine art, so 25% of my business will be classes, workshops, kid's parties, and private events. Monthly offerings will be posted online. Like you would expect from a studio, these classes will be focusing more on the visual elements of cakes and cookies; i.e. they will not be design classes, not cooking classes. The last 25% of my business will be retail, beginning with limited hours: Thursday 4pm-9pm, Friday 4pm-9pm, and Saturday 12pm-6pm. While a Buff. State student might not commission a custom cake from me, they will certainly enjoy my fresh cupcake bar, icing shots, and naked cakes. You could even call ahead and book a cupcake flight in my special tasting booth. I specialize in beautifully crafted cutout cookies, too, so be sure there will always be a fresh display of those on hand. As a parent of a 3 year old and 6 year old, you can also be sure that I will always welcome families!

Oops, sorry, typo above...the classes WILL be design classes, will NOT be cooking classes (though I might do a mixing/rolling/baking demo on occasion).

Oops, sorry, typo above...the classes WILL be design classes, will NOT be cooking classes (though I might do a mixing/rolling/baking demo on occasion).

Oops, sorry, typo above...the classes WILL be design classes, will NOT be cooking classes (though I might do a mixing/rolling/baking demo on occasion).

More responses to the posts above, at least the ones that make sense to me: 1. Class information will be posted on my website once I have an opening date, but if you zip me an email, I will put you on my mailing list right now. Email is on my website, but here it is too: zilly@zillycakes.com.

2. Renovation/Facade: I'm working with EVA design committee and ESquareCapital's architect to change the existing space into something that will be visually and functionally in keeping with the EVA design guidelines. Zillycakes is a high end design studio and school...expect the outside facade and the interior decoration to reflect that.

3. Yes, of course, I have business advisors, a valid business plan, and I have done my own due diligence for two years. I have a clear idea of what Zillycakes will be, and it will not be another Dolci or Delish. They do what they do well...but they do not do the things I will be doing, with the attention to detail that is a signature of my work and my customer service. I am using a different business model than anything else on Elmwood, so I understand your questions and appreciate your concerns, but I think you'll soon have them answered. As to how I plan to pull this off and draw in customers, you'll have to keep checking my website and stop in when we are open to find out!