By Morgan Bryce
Editor

Breakfast, desserts and confectionary treats can be found at downtown Opelika’s Cakeitecture Bakery, which is slated to hold its grand opening festivities later this month.
Last July, the Observer was first to report the bakery’s intended move from Auburn to downtown Opelika. Since officially opening at its new location at 124 S. 8th St. in early January, owner Carrie Tindill said that the increased visibility of her new shop has made for a smooth transition.
“One of the best things about this move is having people be able to walk past our shop. Where we were in Auburn for three and a half years, we’d constantly (hear) ‘oh gosh, I had no idea you were here,’” Tindill said.
With the move comes an upgrade in space, from 850 to 2,900 square feet, as well as the ability to sell items to walk-in customers. Though a set breakfast menu is still under development, Tindill said that items like bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits and French macaron cookies with Swiss butter cream filling paired with a cup of Mama Mocha’s coffee or espresso have been well received. Tables and a bar-seating area up front along with free WiFi access are available for customers to sit and savor their meal.
“Having a place like this is also a great marketing strategy, because it allows people to take stuff from here and walk away with it, with product stickers, stamps and other things on it. People also know that they’ll be able to purchase a great cup of coffee and a chocolate chip cookie or whatever else is in our display case that morning,” Tindill said.
An architect by trade, Tindill’s inability to find an architectural science teaching position in Olympia, Washington led her to follow her passion for baking full time in fall 2010. Through many trials and errors, she eventually cultivated a loyal customer and Cakeitecture would soon become the Pacific Northwest’s sweet-tooth destination, winning the “Best Dessert Award” from South Sound Magazine in 2014.
An Auburn native, Tindill and her husband Anthony returned home to be closer to family and pursue an exclusive partnership with Auburn University. Through meetings and numerous creations of school-themed baked goods, she secured a partnership with the school’s Office of Trademark Management and Licensing, which allows her to use pictures and images symbolic of Auburn in her culinary creations.
In Opelika, Tindill and her seven fellow Cakeitects will continue making her Auburn-themed creations and operating her custom-order business, which is extremely popular with patrons in Lee County and beyond.
“Last year, we were booked up for Auburn’s spring graduation ceremonies in March, and this year, it was by mid-February. We stay pretty booked up,” Tindill said.
Those interested in purchasing custom-made items are asked to call no sooner than two weeks before the intended pick-up date.
Cakeitecture’s grand-opening festivities will be held March 22-23. No additional details have been confirmed.
For more information, to see samples of Tindill’s and her team’s work or view their weekly schedule, like and follow their social media pages or visit www.cakeitecture.com.