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Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-state area. In addition to this update from Cascade, Iowa, we will share other developments in Wednesday’s edition.
CASCADE, Iowa — A prominent Cascade dessert bakery has closed up shop.
Koppes Kreations, at 109 Adams St. SE, was open for the last time Saturday. Owner Nikki Steffen held a retirement party the night prior.
Steffen, who said she always had a knack for baking, started decorating cakes about 25 years ago. Her popular tri-state area business got its start when she decorated a cake for her daughter. Soon, she was decorating cakes for family members and others, continuously growing over the years from her home bakery until the business moved into its current location in 2021.
“We let it organically grow, basically,” Steffen said.
The business started with custom order cakes but later added cupcakes — a trend of the 2000s, she said — and then cookies, among other sweet offerings.
“It’s a business we’ve been able to grow with the trends, with what customers want,” she said.
With her children now grown and some living far from home, Steffen said she hopes to take time to visit them once she auctions off her remaining inventory at the end of May. She said she is unsure what her next step would be after her travels.
Steffen said she considered selling the business at first, but said she thought it would be difficult to find a buyer interested in a bakery offering not just baked goods, but high-end decorating services as well.
Ultimately, she said she wanted to go out on her own terms.
In the meantime, Steffen said she has been overwhelmed with support and love since announcing her retirement.
“I’ve been honored, touched (by finding out how) what I did for (customers) affected their lives and how many people reached out saying they’ll miss us,” she said.
Steffen said she did not quite realize her significance to so many in the community before her recent announcement to close.
“I’m so blessed,” she said. “I was more than just a birthday cake in their house.”