Twice in their lives, Carol and Elaine Niekum have turned misfortune into success. The first time was in 1981, when the sisters started their business known as Make-A-Cake, selling supplies for cake and candy making. Sisters Carol Niekum, Gail Hendricks and Elaine Niekum, along with longtime employee Charlene Cavalier will officially reopen the Make-A-Cake cake and candy-making store next week, w
ith demonstrations and other activities. (Matt Freed, Post-Gazette)
Make-A-Cake
WHERE: 99 Rochester Road, Ross. The second was this summer, when they rebuilt their business after it was destroyed by fire in May. Quitting was never an option for the Niekum sisters. "We were too young to retire," Carol said with a laugh. Our customers were so great -- we had to come back," added Gail Hendricks, their younger sister, who also has been involved with the business since it started. Back they are with a vengeance. While the new shop opened for business Sept. 15, the official grand reopening is set for next week, with candy-making and cake-decorating demonstrations, door prizes and more on the agenda. The business remains on the same site; the same level of customer service that makes Make-A-Cake so popular will continue, too. Along with selling bakers their supplies, the shop assists with individual baking projects, in the store and often by telephone. "[Customers] will call and ask how to make an icing or a certain recipe," Elaine said. "Someone even called and asked how to make a pot roast once," said Charlene Cavalier, an employee who has been with the Niekum sisters since the beginning. Birth of a business
In the early 1980s, both Carol and Elaine found themselves laid off due to recession cutbacks in their respective fields. Gail had just finished business school. Following the advice of their mother, the late Clara Niekum, who told them to "Pull your resources together; do what you know," the sisters did just that. Elaine had been a secretary. Carol had worked at a bakery and created elaborate wedding cakes on her own time. Mom Clara came up with the idea of a specialty cake and candy supply store. Sister Gail brought her business expertise to the mix, and early on the key hire of cavalier made the whole enterprise gel together. "She is our adopted sister," Carol said. The first shop was located on Babcock Boulevard in Ross. "We started very small but realized almost right away that we needed to expand," said Carol. Soon after, they moved to a bigger location on Rochester Road in Ross. Ten years ago the sisters bought the building across the street, where they are presently. Through word of mouth, their customer base grew and the business prospered. Then in the early morning hours of May 17, Ross police called with news about the fire, which has since been attributed to arson. The building and all its contents were destroyed. "The cookie and candy molds were melted to the walls," Carol said. Coincidentally, the fire occurred on the same night as the North Hills High School prom. "Many of our customers' kids went by and told their mothers. It was like a funeral in the parking lot the next day," Carol said. "We were devastated, and so were our customers." Those customers included Joni McCormack of Bellevue. "I did without rather than go somewhere else," she said. Thanks to the grit of the women involved, customers didn't have to wait too long. The Niekums knew all along that they would rebuild and got under way almost immediately. "We would meet in the parking lot. We actually set up a card table with a chair and would do our planning," said Cavalier. The new store was rebuilt around the three walls that were left standing. The ceiling is higher, and one room was created out of the former two, giving the space a larger, airier feel. "Everything is brand new, and we are [now] handicapped-accessible," said Carol. "This is the silver lining in our cloud." REESE'S BAR BUCKEYES
According to the Niekum sisters, this is the most requested recipe at Make-A-Cake.
2 heaping cups peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 stick melted butter
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound powdered sugar
2 cups melted milk chocolate
Mix the peanut butter, brown sugar, melted butter, salt and sugar in a large bowl. With a pastry blender, blend until smooth. Roll into balls, chill, dip into melted chocolate. Above mixture may also be placed in an 8-by-8-inch square pan. Spread melted chocolate over top and chill. Cut into squares. We used Merckens brand chocolate, but any high-quality chocolate will work.
