KENNETT SQUARE — Deisy Tapia, who just celebrated her 30th birthday, never gave up on her dreams.
She opened Deisy’s Cake Shop in March 2020 at 315 W. State St., Kennett Square — at the onset of the pandemic shutdown in Pennsylvania.
“We opened and a week later everything shut down,” Tapia said on Sunday. “We managed to stay open by getting creative and offering cookie kits, cupcake kits — basically to-go baking kits people could enjoy at home.”
She noted Deisy’s Cake Shop also provided curbside pick up for patrons, too.
“And even though we had a lot of large orders canceled, we still made cakes though they were much smaller because birthdays were happening just for families at home,” Tapia said.
And today the shop is thriving. Long lines fill the store on weekends where people are buying baked goods for family gatherings or picking up specialty ordered gourmet birthday cakes.
Yet Tapia’s journey to open a bake shop didn’t begin in Kennett Square.
“We have a bakery in West Grove,” she said. “We were getting so many orders that we needed a bigger space.”
Additionally, “once we arrived in Kennett, orders tripled from what we had in West Grove,” Tapia stated.
Established in 2010, the family’s first bakery — Panaderia Estrella — is located at 123 Rosehill Avenue in West Grove.
Still Tapia’s experience begins beyond West Grove, too.
Tapia was born in Pachuquilla, Mexico.
“My family moved here when I was about three years old,” she said of Chester County. “My parents moved me and my brothers here to provide a much better future than they could have provided for us back in Mexico.”
Further, “the United States provided work opportunities for them, something that our small hometown couldn’t provide,” she said.
Tapia is a graduate of Kennett High School. She also attended Mary D. Lang and Kennett Middle schools.
“I grew up in Kennett and even though I am not a native of here Kennett has a special place in my heart.”
The most popular items ordered by patrons include tres leches cakes, chocolate chip raspberry and conchas-sweet bread.
“We are unique because we not only specialize in special occasion cakes but we also have a variety of traditional Mexican sweet bread,” Tapia said. “ It’s a way of keeping our customs and traditions close to us.”
Tapia said she has been most inspired to pursue the American Dream — and become an entrepreneur — thanks to her parents, Adela and J. Carmen. She continues to work to make them proud, as well as herself.
“I want them to know that their sacrifice of leaving their whole life behind was worth it,” she said of her parents. “And also for customers, who are complete strangers, when they see their cakes have the biggest smiles.”
Tapia also expressed gratitude on Sunday for her culinary arts teachers — Chef Dietrich and Chef Young — from Kennett High School who believed in her, she said, adding that they continue to do so. “I still keep in touch with them,” she said.
“And in the future, I plan on teaching to also someday be an inspiration for the younger generation,” Tapia said.
For individuals considering pursuing their own American Dream as entrepreneurs, Tapia said, “My advice would be to work hard. Nothing comes easy,” she said. “There will be days when you want to give up but there will also be days that are fantastic and make it worthwhile. And no matter how much you know you can always learn more.”
Both Deisy’s Cake Shop in West Grove and Deisy’s Cake Shop are open seven days a week.
“A cake can literally brighten up someone’s day and that feeling is indescribable,” Tapia said.
Borough resident Deisy Tapia creates sweet treats at her family business in Kennett Square at 315 W State St. (JEN SAMUEL – DAILY LOCAL NEWS)
Local business owner Deisy Tapia browses the sweet treats on display at her bakery, 315 W State St. in Kennett Square. (JEN SAMUEL – DAILY LOCAL NEWS)
Local business owner Deisy Tapia said following the American Dream equates to hard work. (JEN SAMUEL – DAILY LOCAL NEWS)
The team at Deisy’s Cake Shop in Kennett Square takes a moment to celebrate the business on February 6. (JEN SAMUEL – DAILY LOCAL NEWS)
