Elmhurst bakery owner serves up success

By Anna Hughes

Every time Michelle Deal makes a birthday cake, it’s her wish that’s coming true.

The Elmhurst business owner knows that a perfect cake is the finishing touch for any of life’s biggest events. With each frosted flower or fragilely crafted fondant creation, she pours her heart into each and every dessert she delivers to her customers.

Deal is a natural when it comes to the kitchen. She’s completely self-taught. She started baking at just ten years old. After years of trial and error, she’s been cooking up creativity in the form of delicious sweet treats.

For most of her life, baking was just a hobby. It was fun and enjoyable, but she didn’t ever think it would pay the bills. Working at Walmart did that. It was a stable gig, but she was unhappy. Working overnights was stressful and exhausting; she knew she wanted to do more, but she didn’t know how to do it.
One day, while watching the bakery team decorating cakes for the day, she was inspired. Her sister’s baby shower was that upcoming weekend, and she had a bright idea.

“I went home and called [my sister], and I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna make your cake this weekend.’ And she was like, ‘Your cakes taste amazing, but you don’t know how to decorate.’ And I was like, ‘No, I saw someone do it. I can do it,’” Deal recalled of that life-changing moment. “Literally, that was my training. So, I started baking. From there, it was a success. And then I started making cakes for friends and family, and then eventually I just turned it into a business.”

Deal was the go-to gal for all her inner circle’s cake needs. With extensive support, she tried new techniques and found new flavors to test out. It was fun, but she wanted more. Unfortunately, tragedy was the trigger for a much-needed change.

In December 2013, Deal’s mom, Carmelita “Carmie” Sams, died from uterine cancer just three weeks after being diagnosed. Carmie was Deal’s biggest supporter and her biggest inspiration.

“She loved my baking and my cooking, like since I was a little girl. So, it wasn’t a surprise or a shock to her at all when I was making cakes, even before she passed away,” Deal said. “She always said that she knew it was something that I wanted to do.”

During her life, Carmie was a cyclist. Deal recalled her being “in love with bicycles.” She built bikes from scratch. She repaired them, too. Most importantly, she taught others how to do the same. Deal knew the best way to honor her mom would be to follow in her footsteps in her own unique way.

“She was happy. She loved what she did,” Deal said. “It wasn’t about money, it was just her passion, and that is the reason why she inspired me to just do what I love and to be happy with what I was doing.”

After one year of working at both Walmart and her own start-up small business, she decided to take the leap and pursue the bakery full-time. It was only fitting that she named it after the woman who influenced its creation: Carmie Cakes.

Now, almost a decade later, Carmie Cakes is better than ever. Thanks to the support from her mom, her family and friends, and her faith, she has a revolving door of loyal customers who trust her to bring their visions to life. Aside from made-to-order cakes, Deal makes gourmet donuts and
cupcakes fresh each day for anyone looking to satisfy a sweet tooth. Deal assured that satisfaction is guaranteed. And that is satisfaction for Deal.

“I just love getting people’s reactions,” Deal said. “That’s my favorite part of it all, to be honest.”

Visit Carmie Cakes at 158 N. York Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126, or visit their website carmiecakes.com to learn more.