New Cake and Cupcake Shop Brings 'Sweetness' to Main Street

Liz Paradiso has had an affinity for baking since she was a young girl, those fond memories of mixing, sifting and rolling with her grandmother served her well into her adult years.

But it wasn’t really until she came upon an empty Main Street storefront that she realized baking could be her livelihood.

While walking her dog throughout her Manayunk neighborhood, where she’s lived with her husband, Owen, for the past five years, Paradiso recently came across an available commercial space that jumped out at her.

“The light bulb just went off,” she said.

That was back in April. Fast forward, and Paradiso is almost a month into running her first entrepreneurial venture, which specializes in custom cakes and unique cupcake creations.

All of Paradiso’s products are made using fresh ingredients, most of which are obtained locally. There are no shortenings, hydrogenated oils or other preservatives used in her product, part of her goal to offer only the best delectables.

Aside from those days baking with her grandmother when she was a young girl, Paradiso has a more recent professional background in food. The Boston native attended the Culinary Institute of America and Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I., the latter at which she studied hospitality management.

One look around Sweet Elizabeth’s and it’s clear this proprietor knows a little something about presentation.

Her sweet treats sit inside a refrigerated case at the front of the café-style store, which has seating for about 15 in the form of small, round-top tables. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and will soon be complimented by a flat screen television, playing cooking shows, and wireless Internet access.

Paradiso envisions her business being a place where people can congregate, relax and enjoy a fresh local dessert after a night out on the town, or simply as a midday set break.

“I think we’ve added some diversity to Main Street,” the 28-year-old business owner said. “Our whole vision for this place is to be a fun, lively, hip place to be. We want it to be a place where people hangout.”

Currently, it’s really only Paradiso working the shop. She does have a neighbor/friend helping out periodically, and her husband would be there if she really needed him, (although he has his own full-time job), but more employees probably won’t come on the scene until fall.

And while she’s been putting in some long hours, (she typically gets in around 6 a.m., and the business doesn’t close until after 10 p.m. on the weekends), Paradiso considers herself a dedicated business owner, and is willing to put forth a major effort to see to it that her store thrives.

“Baking is a true labor of love,” she said. “If you’re not passionate about it you get burned out pretty fast.”

Paradiso’s passion is clearly evident, and marked by the way she discusses her product, which includes the likes of mojito cupcakes, made with lime-flavored cake, muddled mint buttercream icing and candied mint leaves. She called this particular offering “very refreshing,” and a good alternative on a summer day when most folks would probably cringe at the thought of eating something heavy.

While her cupcakes are filling, they’re not painful to eat, she said.

“Our cupcakes are flavorful, they’re filling, they’re rich, they’re buttery, they’re delicious,” she said.

Her product has already caught the interest of some locals and visitors, return customers making their mark on the store.

“Incredible,” she said. “We have loyal customers already. Their compliments are what’s keeping me energized.”

Sweet Elizabeth’s is all about customer service, Paradiso said, and dedicated to making patrons happy.

“We have a little more depth to what we do,” she said. “We’re giving the customers what they want.”

Sweet Elizabeth’s Cakes is open Monday and Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more, visit www.sweetelizabethscakes.com