The brainchild of Dennis and Carol Gregg, Pastry Art Bake Shoppe has been serving Homewood patrons since April 2006. The husband-and-wife duo took a leap of faith upon entering retirement age and opened their bakery, relying on Carol’s baking talent and Dennis’ accounting skills. Their “Baby Bites,” which are flavorful, bite-sized cakes, have been their best-seller from opening day and now are a staple in Homewood’s dessert scene. The Greggs have since capitalized on their hard-earned success, opening a second location in Trussville in October 2020. Here, Carol details the founding of their business and venture into the wedding industry.
What is the founding story behind Pastry Art Bake Shoppe?
In 2006, with self-taught culinary skills and an artist’s background, I, with my husband Dennis, and the encouragement of family and friends, began a 19-year baking odyssey. We opened our first, 900-square-foot store in Homewood and named it Pastry Art Bake Shoppe. Our mission statement was simple and has not changed after almost 20 years. We offer fresh, great-tasting, made-from-scratch baked goods at a fair price in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
What is y’all’s favorite wedding cake that y’all have ever created?
All the wedding cakes we make are so individual, and I love working on each one. I think one of my favorites was a five-tiered bride’s cake with alternating tiers of French vanilla and coconut cream with an intricate monogram. Regardless of the design, it is definitely worth the time spent when you know that you have made the couple’s vision a reality.
What wedding cake trends do you see “staying for a while,” and which do you think will become outdated in the future?
A simple and elegant design is timeless and will always be around. In the past several years, the trend for more retro-style designs with ruffles and swags have been popular. Fondant-covered cakes are beautiful but not requested as much recently. Sports-themed groom’s cakes are always popular and are requested often. Baby Bites are a large part of our wedding preparations. Popular displays can consist of anything from a tiered display with flowers for the bride to a design with sports logos or initials for the groom.
To whom do you attribute your inspiration for creating beautiful works of pastry arts?
Sylvia Weinstock was the designer that I began following early on and had the pleasure of meeting at an event in Birmingham, Alabama, a few years ago. Several designers in the United Kingdom are favorites and showcase a number of different styles.
Out of all of Pastry Art Bake Shoppe’s menu items or cake flavors, which should a newcomer order first?
It’s hard to choose one flavor over another, but the red velvet has been our best-selling flavor over all. Regardless, quality and freshness are our foremost priorities, and we have never wavered from fresh-baked, made-from-scratch baked goods. You can’t go wrong with ordering any of our menu items.
Pastry Art Bake Shoppe is located at 1917 29th Avenue South in Homewood. It is open Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information or to inquire about orders, visit pastryartcakes.com.
