Meet Super Hero Cindy Summers!
Cindy owns Sugar Fixe Patisserie in Oak Park which employs 23 people.
What does your business do?
At Sugar Fixe Patisserie we make fresh pastries including croissants, tarts, macarons, and cupcakes along with special occasion and wedding cakes. We have a full-service espresso bar serving La Colombe coffee.
What is “super” about your business? Why is it special?
Besides my amazing employees? My customers are seriously special. I have so many loyal customers who come in every. single. day. Sometimes twice a day. It’s really quite amazing to have that type of relationship with so many people in our community. Makes me teary-eyed just thinking about it.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I’m a mom. Although it’s a blurry line because you’ll often see my daughter working with me, charming customers and demanding baked goods. I also help my husband with his start-up, 2 Fools Cider.
If you could pick a superpower, what would it be?
The ability to clone myself. I need one Cindy who spends her days at Sugar Fixe. And another Cindy that spends her time with friends and family. And sleeping.
Why did you choose to invest in our community?
I live here and felt that the community valued unique local businesses so I would have a chance at being competitive with the chains already in the area.
What local organizations have you been able to support in the past?
I believe that Sugar Fixe Patisserie can make the biggest difference in the community by focusing our giving on a small number of high-impact non-profit organizations with missions that are close to my heart. I am an active member of the Board of Directors for Pillars Community Services and have a personal connection to their mission. I love supporting their events Sarah’s Inn, Hephzibah, and The Children’s School.
What’s the weirdest thing you sell or offer? Or have their been any odd customer requests?
We recently made a 3-D sculpted poop emoji cake. We also made a 6-tier wedding cake for a movie shoot where the best man threw the cake onto the dance floor.
Name three of your favorite local businesses (besides yourself, of course!)
Sugarcup Trading is my go-to for baby showers and kid birthdays. But the biggest reason it’s a favorite is that the owner, Michelle Vanderlaan, has a huge heart. One of my employees needed help and without blinking Michelle offered to run a clothing drive and contributed new items from her shop.
I love Pumpkin Moon for its nostalgia and seeing the wonder in my daughter’s eyes each time we go in.
Another favorite is Il Vicolo for it’s warm, family-run atmosphere. I love strolling through the nearby shops on Oak Park Ave. before sitting down for dinner on Il Vicolo’s amazing patio.
Visit Cindy Summers at Sugar Fixe Patisserie
119. N. Marion St., Oak Park
Small Business Super Heroes is a partnership between the Oak Park – River Forest Chamber of Commerce and Wednesday Journal’s www.oakpark.com.
This Super Hero profile was created on August 1, 2017
