NEWPORT NEWS-O’s Cakes opened a little over a month ago in Patrick Henry Mall and is already considering an expansion.
Former Newport News police officer Olajuwon Bynoe, who has always been fond of baking, and his wife, Aysia, opened the cakery in a kiosk at the mall at the end of February.
“I have been baking since I was fourteen,” Bynoe said. “That’s when I started working with my dad in his cake shop. I most enjoy people’s reaction to the taste of my cakes. The look of surprise because they didn’t know it would taste ‘that good’ brings me joy.”
O’s Cakes specializes in red velvet cake. Bynoe previously owned a bake shop in Georgia. He decided to open O’s Cakes locally after receiving such a positive response from selling slices of his cakes from his home on the weekends.
“It’s great to have a great product but we believe our customers deserve a one-of-a-kind experience,” Bynoe said. “Giving a smile, having that willingness to help, and having a conversation to get to know something about them, to us, makes a world of difference and separates us from places that just try to make a sale.”
Since opening, Bynoe and his wife, the sole employees of the cake shop, have sold more than 4,800 cake slices and completed 121 whole cake orders in addition to selling cupcakes.
“We need a bigger shop,” Bynoe said. “We’re finding out that we are quickly outgrowing our kiosk and our customers believe so too.”
The expansion is coming sooner than expected and Bynoe is hoping patrons will be patient as they work toward their goal.
“The response to O’s Cakes has been amazing,” Bynoe said. “We did not expect the amount of love and support from our community and even outside of our community. We are truly grateful.”