Cake Stories closes Jesmond cafe after nine years due to 'really tough time for small businesses'

The owners of popular cake shop have closed the cafe where their business began nine years ago, admitting it's a "really tough time for small businesses".

Cake Stories opened its first cafe on Brentwood Avenue, Jesmond, in 2015 and quickly became known as one of the best coffee shops in Newcastle, renowned for selling freshly handmade cakes. Today, those tasty treats are enjoyed by customers from Land's End to the Isle of Harris as their bakes are shipped to coffee shops across the country.

But on Thursday, May 30, Cake Stories closed its Jesmond branch for the final time and passed the keys to Northumberland-based coffee shop, Lemon Grass Deli & Kitchen, which is re-locating and taking over the site. Lemon Grass Deli & Kitchen, previously based in Ponteland, hopes to open within days, bringing its Asian Fusion cuisine to Jesmond.

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Cake Stories' Hoults Yard site, which opened in 2021, will remain open and the business will continue to supply Lemon Grass Deli & Kitchen, meaning Cakes Stories' goods can still be purchased at their former home.

In a statement on Facebook, the owners of Cake Stories wrote: "After nine amazing years on Brentwood Ave, we are closing our Jesmond store.

"Lemon Grass Deli & Kitchen, a well-loved coffee shop from Ponteland who specialise in Asian Fusion cuisine will be taking over & are excited to meet you! Their food is delicious and Mark and Allysa are absolutely lovely people, plus the coffees and cakes will stay the same as we'll continue to supply them with goodies!

"Our time here has been an incredible journey but as times change, so must we. I know many of you will want to know why, so I’ll be transparent. It’s a really tough time for small businesses - being squeezed from all directions and because we’re passionate about bringing great things to our communities it hurts when we can’t do that to the standard we’d like.

"I believe those who are going to really thrive will do so because they have the owner’s attention and presence on site more than I’m currently able to give here."

They added: "Whilst the Jesmond store was where it began, our business has shifted over the years and we now supply cakes to other ace indie coffee shops nationwide (sign up via link in bio). We started years ago when our friends at @thecyclehub_newcastle asked us to supply them. It grew and we now send cake to Land's End, the Isle of Harris and hundreds of places in between.

"We’re really proud of this, but realistically it leaves less capacity for the Jesmond store, which deserves better than that… so it’s time for someone else to breathe fresh life into it.

"It’s been a privilege being part of your stories - your study dates, work dates, family dates, mate dates, first dates, anniversary dates and me-time dates. To be part of this great community - winning the Jesmond Plastic Free award more than once, hosting teddies on treasure hunts, providing a safe hangout for Percy Hedley students, supporting West Jes Primary School’s great work, and making wedding/birthday cakes for so many of you over the years - it’s been a dream come true and an absolute honour... Thank you it's been a blast! Big Love, Hannah & Family and the CS Team."