West Des Moines Difference - January 2009 - (Page 22)

SCOPE OF BUSINESS VALLEY JUNCTION Valley Junction Baker Proclaims, ‘Let Them Eat Cake’ From elegant wedding cakes to fi ne pastries, Valley Junction’s Let Them Eat Cake features an impressive array of delicious desserts for special occasions and everyday indulgences. “People here in Valley Junction have a great amount of respect for a baker’s skill and offerings,” said pastry chef Vicente Diaz, who opened the Maple Street business in May 2007. “I enjoy being in this area, because I’ve discovered a small community where we truly do care for each other.” Grant Program Enhances A-Okay Antiques Valley Junction dates from 1893, when a commercial boom led to the construction of a thriving commercial district. Many of those buildings continue to grace the area today, thanks to shop owners’ interest in preservation. Th rough June 2008, Valley Junction boasted 212 buildings that have been renovated and upgraded, including A Okay Antiques on Fift h Street. “My shop, which was built in 1900, had only an outside stairway to reach the second floor,” said Steve Mumma, who opened the business in 1987. “Although I kept merchandise on the second floor, there was very limited access for many years.” Several years ago, Mumma received a $500 grant through the City of West Des Moines to install an indoor staircase. The modification allows customers to easily browse Mumma’s complete inventory of Victorian and mid-century modern items. “Valley Junction always att racts a great clientele, and all the events in the Junction make it easy for merchants to att ract a diverse cross section of shoppers,” said Mumma, who noted that customers also appreciate all the free parking in the area. “I value the support that Valley Junction and West Des Moines offer to local businesses like mine.” “ I ENJOY BEING IN THIS AREA, BECAUSE I’VE DISCOVERED A SMALL COMMUNITY WHERE WE TRULY DO CARE FOR EACH OTHER.” VICENTE DIAZ, LET THEM EAT CAKE Diaz, who trained in various hotels in Mexico City and became a dessert designer in Seattle, offers éclairs, cookies, brownies and bars through Let Them Eat Cake, as well as large-scale cakes for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and other important celebrations. Locating in West Des Moines has provided a number of unexpected benefits, Diaz noted. “While I moved to West Des Moines for business purposes, I’ve found that living on this side of town has been a good move,” he said. “The community offers a lot of the advantages of a big city, plus the quality of life is very good here, and people are friendly.” 22 THE WEST DES MOINES DIFFERENCE

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of San Jose Official Visitor Guide 2009

San Jose Official Visitor Guide 2009 Welcome Contents Corporations Valley Junction Entrepreneurs Financial Report Neighborhoods Maps Education Medical Business Lifestyle Shopping WDM Difference Services

San Jose Official Visitor Guide 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.