08/28/2026
Hey friends, let’s address something!
Being a woman-owned business is hard enough. Opening a bakery/dessert business in a small community comes with its own set of challenges. And apparently having the audacity to offer both sweet AND savory items means people suddenly feel the need to decide who is “original” and who is “copying.”
No.
When I opened AllieCats, I had a vision. I wanted to combine an existing crepe concept with my existing baking business because it made sense. The ingredients overlap. The equipment overlaps. The products complement each other. Since then, I’ve slowly invested in equipment, expanded our menu, our space and continued building toward the business I envisioned.
That vision did not start yesterday.
And just because another bakery or dessert business opens does not suddenly erase the work I’ve been doing.
What I find especially disappointing is that since Best Bakery was announced, I’ve had customers come into my business and make comments, or leave comments online, comparing businesses in ways that I would NEVER want an AllieCats customer behaving toward another local business.
I don’t need anyone tearing someone else down to make AllieCats look better.
In fact, I regularly recommend other women-owned businesses in the Harbor. I send people to them. I purchase from them. I celebrate their wins. I genuinely admire what these women are building.
Because I understand something that apparently needs to be said:
There is enough room for all of us.
And please, let’s stop acting like someone invented the concept of putting sweet and savory food on a menu.
It’s 2026. We have TikTok. We have Instagram. We have Pinterest. We have entire algorithms dedicated to showing us the same trends, recipes, concepts, and ideas from businesses all over the world. I basically live on TikTok & I see the same ideas circulating constantly. Very few things are completely original anymore.
What matters is what YOU do with an idea. Your ex*****on. Your personality. Your quality. Your customer experience. Your story. Your investment. Your work.
That is what makes a business its own.
So if you love another bakery, go support them. If you love AllieCats, support us. If you love both, even better. We need to keep our small businesses thriving!
But don’t come into my business or onto my social media trying to create competition, drama, or some imaginary ownership over an entire category of food.
I know what I built.
I know why I built it.
I know how much I’ve invested into it.
And I’m not going to apologize for continuing to grow it.
I will continue to support women-owned businesses. I will continue to recommend them. I will continue to cheer them on.
I just ask for the same respect in return.
There’s room at the table. You don’t have to push someone else out to pull up your own chair.
Anyways, I’m in the middle of the ocean so I’ll see you later! 🩵
