This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Business Q&A: The Cake Gallery

Owner Thomas Shipley has been applying confectionery artistry to cake creation for over 40 years and running.

The Cake Gallery, first opening its doors in December of 2008, is the result of one man’s nearly four decades of baking experience and passion.

Owner and Bellmore resident Thomas Shipley, while having appeared in his chef’s hat on television’s The Discovery Channel and other media, still seems most at home in a busy kitchen, creating fancy and delicious cakes and pastries.

Shipley spoke to Patch about his years in the apron and finally getting the chance to open his very own business.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Tell us about what goes on there at The Cake Gallery.

We’re a specialty cake and gourmet dessert shop. We specialize in wedding cakes and the type of cakes you see on TV all the time...cake sculptures, those kind of things. We also have delicious desserts in the case every day, layer cakes, cookies, coffee cakes and more.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Our big special is on the weekends. We take croissants and we fry them and stuff them with jelly...it’s like the best jelly donut that you’ve ever had. That’s really popular in the neighborhood.

What’s your background and experience in baking?

I’ve been in the business for just about 40 years. I started as a kid, sweeping up at a bake shop. From there, I worked in a lot of local bakeries. I’ve also taught at the Culinary Institute, I’ve taught in Manhattan. I’ve also been on television and in contests, done magazines and had a bunch of celebrity clients.

I’m a cake decorator...a cake artist and sculptor. When it comes to anything and everything that you can think of about a cake, I can do it.

What made you decide to take that plunge and open up your own place after all these years?

It was now or never. The chance was that I actually had the money to do it after years of working for other people. I probably should have been doing it all along. Economically, we opened up at the worst time we possibly could, and we’re still here four years later...so that says something.

What makes The Cake Gallery different from other bake shops?

The good thing about The Cake Gallery is that you come in and you talk to me personally, so you cut the middle man out. Plus, we have a wide-open kitchen, so you can come in and watch me work also.

What do you like about owning a business in the Bellmore area?

I like it here because, first of all, the shopping center that I’m in is nice, neat, and clean. Plus, my customers are nice...it’s a friendly neighborhood. I live here myself and I live two blocks away from my job, so that’s good. It’s just a nice, friendly place. Everybody’s very respectful, and they’re nice to do business with.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?