Although she had no prior experience in the food industry, Lamika said she was certain her idea for Decadent could be successful. So she decided to open her business under Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery, a franchise that provided some support but also allowed her creative freedom. The Sugar Land shop offers cakes, waffles and coffee in addition to savory breakfast and lunch items.
“Our sister company is Smallcakes. Those are all over, and Decadent was an extension of that brand,” Lamika said.
She said even though she and her husband, Alton Dickey, had entrepreneurial knowledge, they wanted more guidance on food management from the Smallcakes brand.
Decadent’s core cupcakes and some of the cakes are Smallcakes’ recipes, but everything else is a Decadent creation, she said. All of the cakes, sandwiches, cheesecakes and gelato are made from scratch. The coffee features a blend of beans from all over the world.
“What would make us original is our flavoring,” she said. “We have our own lineup of drinks, and we try to come up with our own flavors that would be unique to us. ... We wanted to make sure that we had a lot of sugar-free options too.”
As customers become more comfortable with dining in again, Lamika said she looks forward to expanding her menu’s inclusivity. In addition to more sugar-free options, she is expanding her gluten-free options and vegan recipes.
Starting a business right before a pandemic posed unprecedented challenges when it came to growing customers, Lamika said, forcing her to think outside the box to attract clients. Decadent has also worked with influencers to advertise the Dickeys’ brand.
“We had to get creative,” Alton said. “We relied on social media; we went to influencers; we even offered curbside pickup. Anything to make it convenient as so, ‘Hey, there’s still reasons to celebrate; we’ll still make you a cake.’”
Although busy, Lamika said she feels fulfilled balancing her time between nursing and Decadent as she loves to be of service to people. Additionally, she makes time to give back to her community.
“We do a lot for the churches, for the school,” Lamika said. “It is always the youth coming in for sports events, and we try to help them. I love to be of service to others in whatever way it is.”
Decadent Desserts and Coffee Bar
350 Promenade Way, Ste. 500, Sugar Land
832-500-0511
www.decadentsugarland.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Mon.
