While December represents one of the most hectic months for many Austin businesses, the busy season is still a couple months away for Sugar Mama's Bake Shop.
"This is the calm before the storm," said Olivia O'Neal, owner of the South Austin Bakery.
Expansion plans and reality cooking competitions highlighted a busy 2013 for O'Neal, who staved off three competitors to win an April episode of Food Network's "Cupcake Wars."
"It was a lot of hard work—even harder than it looked on TV," O'Neal said. "I was really intimidated, but it was a lot of fun."
Fresh off her victory, she and her husband, Steve, announced plans in June to expand the 5 1/2-year-old business to Manor Road in East Austin.
"We've been looking to expand to the east side since the second year we were open," she said. "Finally, the stars aligned."
O'Neal said the business may even turn to crowdfunding to help open the second location.
"Just because we are an established business, we still definitely need community support," she said. "There is a lot of competition out there, which is great because it keeps us on our toes."
Cupcakes make up approximately 60 percent of Sugar Mama's business, she said, while pies, cookies and especially cakes make up the rest of sales. The second location, expected to open in March, will offer cake and pie by the slice as well as plated seasonal desserts. The company will also serve beer and wine cocktails for the first time, O'Neal said.
"We're always looking for new things to keep the menu fresh," she said.
Sugar Mama's, 1905 S. First St., Ste. A, 512-448-3727, www.sugarmamasbakeshop.com