Around the Rivers: Owner of New Cake Shop Opening in Perrysville Turns Layoff into Dream Job

Shortly after Nancy Becker was laid off in 2008 as a project designer for an architectural firm in Pittsburgh, she began watching TV shows about decorating cakes — Ace of Cakes on the Food Network, and Cake Boss or the Ultimate Cake Off on TLC. 

"I thought, that looks like something I can really get into doing," Becker said. "I found I loved it." 

She also found that she was quite good at it. In 2009, she competed in the annual "Let Them Eat Cake," fundraiser for the nonprofit Midwife Center for Birth and Women's Health and tied in the category for best amateur-decorated cake. Her entry: a two-tier fondant cake decorated in different shades of green and topped with a frog on a lily pad, holding a daisy.

In 2010, she competed again and won for the best overall amateur-decorated cake. This year, her cake won People's Choice for best-decorated cake and best overall professional-decorated cake. 

The success there and the word-of-mouth business it generated for her custom designs inspired Becker, 48, to turn her cake-baking and cake-decorating skills into a new career — one where she controls her own fate.

The Green Tree resident signed a lease the first week of this month for the 750-square-foot space at 994 Perry Highway in Perrysville, where she plans to open Madison Avenue Specialty Cakes in October. 

Named after Becker's 4-year-old niece, Madison, the majority of the space — the former Domino's Pizza location — will be devoted to the kitchen, where she will bake cakes to order. A small public area at the front of the shop will feature cupcakes, cookies and bagged treats for immediate purchase. 

"We could not pass up the place, and we also like this area," said Becker, who grew up in the North Hills. "It seems to be a great business district." 

Becker is opening the shop with the support of her husband, Paul, by day a detective with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, by night, a cake tester. 

He said the cakes his wife bakes are like no other, baked from scratch with high-quality ingredients featuring fresh, in-season flavors. 

"Most people are very surprised when they taste [it]," he said. 

Becker also focuses on unusual flavors, such as espresso, key lime, spice with caramel frosting and mango.

She describes her cake designs as modern and whimsical, in the style of Dr. Seuss. 

"It really is like art and sculpture," she said. "It's a very creative field." 

She said she hoped to hire at least one full-time person to help manage the front counter when the shop opens this fall. Hours are expected to be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Weekend hours are still up in the air. She will be closed on Mondays, she said.

In the meantime, she is taking orders through her website, www.madisonavecakes.com, and renting kitchen space in the South Hills to fill them. 

Becker said she has no qualms about her career change or move to entrepreneurship. The fact that it involves work she enjoys makes any extra hours or risks worth it.

"I don't think I'd ever go back," she said. "There's something to be said for being your own boss." 

This story is one in a continuing report on the state of the American Dream, an ongoing series that brings national issues to a local level and looks at how they affect our friends and neighbors.