Katie Davis Godley made her dream come true at age 51 by opening a new bakery called Katie’s Cupcake Cottage at 1298 Sniders Highway.
Katie is a supreme baker. But instead of selling her fare by word of mouth on Facebook, she is now selling goodies in her own bakery. The grand opening of Katie’s Cupcake Cottage is Saturday August 22 at 7 a.m.
“I have always wanted to open a restaurant, but never felt it was the right time. But with the help of my family and with the encouragement of my friends, I decided to just do it,” said Godley. “What got the ball rolling was a call from a friend who asked me if I wanted to rent a building from him. I knew the Lord was in it when the building offer came. None of this was planned. I discussed it with my husband. Then I decided that if I didn’t take this opportunity, I would regret it, and I didn’t want to live the rest of my life with regrets. If I don’t succeed, it won’t be because I didn’t give it 110%,” she said.
The building, which shares a parking lot with Waffle House, is huge and spacious. There are tables and chairs for customers to sit down and eat, and glass cases with appetizing cupcakes and desserts.
But that’s not all she plans to offer.
“I plan on having homemade ham salad, chicken salad and egg salad sandwiches made on homemade bread. Everything I make is homemade from scratch. In the fall, I want to add soups and chili,” said Godley. But that, of course, is in addition to her homemade strawberry, banana, red velvet, chocolate, Reeses peanut butter, champagne, Kit Kat, orange, sangria and vanilla cupcakes — along with pecan chewies, brownies, fudge, lemon squares, pies, designer cakes and chocolate peanut butter balls. She has coffee, sodas, and soon, espresso.
Godley has been baking for 30 years, since her husband volunteered her to bake a red velvet cake for him to take to his hunt club. It was so popular, that a request came for two more, one to eat, and one to be used for a bake sale. Her red velvet cake sold for $75. That started her love of baking and selling her desserts.
“I love watching people’s expressions and hearing the noises they make when they eat something I bake,” said Godley. “They look so happy. I love the feeling I get by making them feel that way.”
She remembers the time she baked and served cupcakes and a lady was enjoying her dessert so much that she actually ate the cupcake baking paper too. “It was so funny, and yet gratifying, that she enjoyed it that much,” Katie said.
While she loves making savory foods and sweet creations for people, the task of opening her own restaurant was daunting.
“I have always baked and sold from home until I was welcomed by Sunday’s Soul Food restaurant. I baked for them until COVID, then I continued to work from home. I could not have possibly managed this without the help of family and friends. My husband, Stacey, is my biggest supporter. He has come to the restaurant after working all day and helped me get ready. My children, Stacey Jr. and Austin; my daughter-in-law, Kim; and my son’s girlfriend, Christina, have all put in a lot of hours helping me, as did Janie and Benny O’Quinn. And they all have been so supportive. My loyal customers have also been encouraging,” said Godley.
“Tammy from DHEC was wonderful and told me exactly what I needed to do to get ready in this building. She was so helpful. Tiger Air, Pye Barker, Travis Crosby, and Michael and Elizabeth Wiggins are all local contractors and helped with the essentials I needed for baking and cooking,” Godley added.
Her restaurant sign is ready to go up, desserts are in the glass case, the building is spotless, tables and chairs are ready and waiting for hungry customers. Katie’s Cupcake Cottage is already open for business, waiting for the special grand opening Saturday.
“Everyone should stop their diets and come try my cupcakes.” She points to a sign in her shop and says it is her motto. The sign reads: “Not only did I fall off the diet wagon, I dragged it into the woods, set it on fire, and used the insurance money to buy cupcakes at Katie’s Cupcake Cottage.”
Godley is happy and excited about her new business. The only negative in this dream come true? Katie can’t eat her own creations. She is allergic to eggs.
