GRAND FORKS — Don’t panic for regular customers of O’ For Heaven’s Cakes N’ More.
Yes, its doors close on June 15 at the Grand Cities Mall. No, you haven’t heard the last of owner Cheri Randel and her treats. However, you’ll just find it and these cakes and muffins in a different location.
Unlike a typical closing, Randel received an opportunity that will allow him to continue his career with Development Homes Inc. Sweet Street when it opens in Grand Forks in September.
With procurement costs rising post-pandemic, Randel is hanging by a thread at the Grand Cities Mall. It even has at least one volunteer employee in the person of Cheryl Madsen.
A lot has changed since Randel and a friend opened the business in late 2010. A few years later, the friend had to leave the business due to a back injury.
Later, COVID hit.
“Since COVID, it’s been tough,” Randel said. “I struggled and tried to maintain that pace for everyone as long as possible. And then an opportunity presented itself.
This opportunity presented itself with Sweet Street.
“I’m going to be their manager and I’ll still make cakes and everything,” Randel said. “I’m bringing a lot of my stuff with it, so it’ll be a lot of my cake recipes and stuff. I will be able to do what I love, but I no longer have to worry about where the money is coming from.
Randel hopes to bring some of his current employees, including Madsen, to Sweet Street.
“A lot of them are considering applying and maybe coming with me,” she said. “You will always see friendly faces when you visit the new one.”
After starting her career decorating cakes at Hugo’s, Randel decided to take the plunge and open the business with her friend Karlyne Kovar in November 2010.
“My best friend came back from Casselton,” she said. “We talked about it in July. She moved in August and we were open in November. We did all this with virtually no money. So we never had any money to fall back on.
The goal from day one was simple.
“I just wanted to bake cakes and make people happy,” she said. “That was about it.”
At Sweet Street, Randel will have the resources to make donuts and bread, which she doesn’t sell at O’For Heaven’s Cakes. She is looking forward to the new products.
But she will have a few weeks off after her business closes. She is scheduled to leave the Grand Cities Mall on June 23. On June 24, she and her daughter, Veronika, will go on a trip with the Girl Scouts to England, Ireland and Scotland.
“I signed up a few years ago and was making the payments,” Randel said. “Then all of a sudden I wasn’t getting paid here anymore, so my ex stepped in and paid for the trip for us to make sure we could go.”
Madsen said Randel deserved some time to herself after working long hours at the company.
“Cheri is great to work with,” Madsen said. “She puts customers and employees above herself. This opportunity for Cheri and the community is truly amazing as it only continues to grow.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Randel too.
“When I took this other job, I said the only thing I worried about was my clients,” she said. “We will take them with us. We’re just starting to let customers know that this is happening.
Employees who will not join her at Sweet Street, which will be at 1730 13th Ave. N, will miss him.
“Having the right people working with you makes all the difference,” Randel said. “I wouldn’t have been as successful as I have been for this long without any of them.”
“They are all family to me. It will be difficult not to see them every day.
Randel’s daughter, who grew up in the business, was initially disappointed by the news of the closure.
“She had a hard time because she grew up here. But she understands. She said, “Mom, you are going to get a salary now. » »
Tricia Lee, CEO of Development Homes, said: “The products will be incredible, and combining Cheri’s talents with the delicious menu of new items will make Sweet Street a tasty business.” »
