Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
When Lonnie Cato's friends were thinking of retiring, she was just getting started. Lonnie has been baking and decorating cakes her whole life, so she opened All About Cakes in Tooele 15 months ago.
You could say Lonnie was born to make cakes. Her mother decorated cakes for family and friends, and Lonnie learned the trade from her. Thirty-six years ago, Lonnie even made her own wedding cake. Lonnie is one of seven instructors in the United States qualified to do "pulled sugar," a delicate process involving molding sugar into various shapes.
Lonnie is on the board of directors of an international cake club and realized many cake decorators didn't know how many tools were available to them. Not only does All About Cakes sell tools and cake supplies, but the store also teaches you how to use them. Lonnie tells me she doesn't want people to buy cake-making tools and then never use them for lack of knowing how.
All About Cakes also rents cake pans. Cleverly named "Tin Pan Alley," the store has 280 different cake pans in all shapes and sizes. The pans are available for purchase, or you can rent one for the day for $1. I'd say that's a steal of a deal! A retired schoolteacher started the collection, and some of the pans date back to 1973. Many of Lonnie's friends and colleagues donate pans to Tin Pan Alley, and Lonnie says everyone that donates gets their name inscribed on a plaque hanging in the store.
Lonnie has no plans of quitting soon. In fact, she told me she would be mobbed if she suddenly decided to close shop. Lonnie loves teaching, and she has traveled to Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado giving lessons. She tells me she would be happy forever if she could just teach.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
