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PATTICAKES >> NEW TIOGA LOCATION
CUP OF JOE
PATTICAKES BREWS UP SECOND LOCATION
Cupcakes, Coffee & Community S T O R Y B Y H AY L I Z U CCO L A PHOTOGR A PH Y BY NICOLE GUILLEN
Decadent dark chocolate cupcakes garnished with white chocolate, cream cheese frosting; seasonally available scones in flavors ranging from subtle honey lavender to tart lemon berry and holiday-inspired lattes like snickerdoodle, gingerbread and maple may be the eye candy of Patticakes, but underneath those mouthwatering baked goods and liquid morning pick-me-ups is a community of friends and neighbors whose continuous support has helped the Gainesville-based coffee shop and cupcakery not only survive the pandemic but open a long-awaited second location. Recognizing the gourmet cupcake craze and the unwavering admiration java junkies have for a delicious cup of joe, in 2011, Jan and David Patterson established Patticakes with a Haile Village storefront; a menu to curb a sweet tooth’s appetite or jitter-induced mocha craving; and the overall desire to forge a sense of community within their neighborhood. After almost a decade of serving up sweet creations and aromatic espressos, the Pattersons decided it was time to open 66 |
OUR TOWN MAGAZINE
JAN/FEB 2021
a second location. In January, before hand sanitizer became the most sought-after product of the year and masks were the new norm, the Pattersons learned the Starbucks located in Tioga Town Center would soon be closing their doors – leaving the retail district with a corner store vacancy that would be the perfect fit for Patticakes’ enticing menu and people-centered principles. However, opening a second location was an idea placed on the backburner after the coronavirus rapidly became a global pandemic, which not only impacted essential workers and pushed hospitals to peak capacity, but put the fate of small businesses into question. “You know, when it first hit really bad back in March, into March, early April or whenever it was, we closed. We shut off our inside seating, and we just were having one customer in at a time and we quickly implemented an app so we could do curbside service and just tons of sanitizing and wearing masks,” Patterson said. “Business was slow. Business slowed down a lot, obviously, but eventually people started realizing we were here