07/10/2026
Good Evening.
I’ve been dreading writing this. The truth is, I’ve put it off long enough. With the amount of calls and messages we’ve been getting, I figure it is past time.
In short and to get right to the point. We have decided it is time to close our chapter at The Kakery. This decision has been far from taken lightly. We have taken time to reflect and have definitely considered all the work we have done to this point and the sacrifices we’ve made to keep The Kakery going. We reflected on the brand we’ve built and the relationships that have blossomed. It’s such a bittersweet feeling to see something not sustain, no matter what you’ve tried. I don’t know that anyone will ever truly understand the hours Richie and I have poured into keeping something afloat. The long nights, the favors we’ve asked, the stress and the sleepless nights. The constant rise in the cost of goods, staffing issues, missed gatherings with our own families, strained relationships etc. Please don’t hear this as a complaint. It is far from that. This is me being raw and honest with you, as I have always tried to be.
We have had A LOT of good too. Please hear my heart. When we started. We didn’t have a lot to invest ourselves. We didn’t take out a big loan either. We just had a dream and a few people who believed in us. Them people in particular have gotten me out of bed every single day, willing to try it again. The biggest break in my heart is letting those said people down. We can say with our whole heart, it’s never been a lack of trying or hard work. We have never cut corners or risked quality. We didn’t always get it right but, we always made it right and those are things I’ll forever be able to hold on to.
While on my soul search, I came across the quote: Grinding when nothing is left is not discipline, it’s ego. It’s been replaying in my head because I do have a deep fear of what others will think or say.
In conclusion, running The Kakery as a walk up restaurant just doesn’t make sense to us anymore. Despite us constantly hearing that our food is good and that we are needed in the community, compliments don’t pay the bills and people just don’t show up. No matter how we’ve tried to slice the pie, the numbers don’t math. To be honest, a lot of Mom and Pops are dying off and it’s a harsh reality but, a reality nonetheless. Today, we accept this was a season. We are closing this chapter with our heads held high. We are taking our lessons and banking them and rejoicing in the fact that we got to do something others only ever think about. We took a risk, we jumped in with both feet. No regrets.
We appreciate every single one of you. To the ones who came time and time again, who shared our stuff, referred us and hired us. You all will forever have a special place in our hearts.
❤️-The Ottino’s
