A Little Bite of Sweetness Comes to Camarillo

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By Raven West

Gina Stymacher – Owner of Camerillo Cupcake

In today’s world of home based baked goods, huge supermarket bakeries and on-line ordering, it would seem opening a brick and mortar cupcake bakery would be an almost impossible dream.

But Gina Stymacher made her dream a reality when she followed her passion for baking and personal contact, opening Camarillo Cupcake.

“I never considered getting into the bakery business,” says Gina. “I went into the corporate world, in project management right from college. I was there my entire career. Then, one day I just decided I wanted to do something different. I didn’t know what that was, but I remembered going to visit my Grandmother and the wonderful home baked pies and breads we enjoyed as a family.  From the time I was six or seven baking came naturally to me and was also a lot of fun. I was baking at home for friends and family and decided what would really make me happy was to open my own bakery.”

Camarillo Cupcake is a true family-owned and operated business. Gina’s husband Danny drives her to work every morning. He’s the unofficial “back-up dishwasher” who also helps by lining the cupcake pans and organizing all the ingredients needed for the day, before leaving for his own job. Then he’ll stop by after work to help with the closing clean-up.

Twenty-three year old daughter Haley recently graduated from college and started working in the bakery before leaving for an internship in Anaheim. When she’s home for a visit, she’s in the bakery helping mom.

Gina’s older daughter Alison is in the Army, stationed in Arizona, but when she’s home on leave, you can find her up to her elbows in cupcake batter.

Camarillo Cupcake features an eclectic menu. There are the standard traditional flavors of vanilla, chocolate, lemon and red velvet which are served daily with special flavors created every Thursday. All the new creations are taste-tested by Gina and her staff, during “test kitchen” days. Employees also have the opportunity to suggest different flavor combinations – AND have the new cupcake named after them.  

Haley’s Root Beer, Lauren’s Snickers, Dillon’s Bananarama and Joseph’s Peaches & Cream are just a few of the many different original creations that have been added to the menu.

Experimenting with different flavors is part of the fun. Coming up with ways to create specialty items that cater to her customers’ dietary choices is another. Their gluten-free lemon is very popular, as well as her Vegan cupcake she features on the weekends. Gina’s secret recipe is free of any animal products… no milk, no butter and no eggs.

“We change that flavor every week, too. We ask our Vegan friends what flavors they like and then we create it just for them!”

All the baking is done on premises. They start with about four dozen of each of the nine flavors to be ready when they open at eleven in the morning and continue to bake throughout the day. When they first opened, Gina ran the bakery seven days a week from 10 am to 7pm, but made some adjustments for herself and her family.

“We wanted convenient hours so open at eleven in the morning. We’re closed on Monday. For my sanity I need to have a day off!”

Gina’s future plan is to purchase a delivery van so she can cater events for weddings, parties and the business community. She’s also creating special flavors to pare with the growing beer industry as well as the many wineries in Ventura County. In addition to cupcakes, Gina also offers special order full size cakes for any occasion.

Gina invites you to join her exclusive V.I.P. Cupcake club. Text CAMCUPCAKE to 51660 and receive 1 FREE cupcake with a purchase of a cupcake and special offers and promotions!

For a delicious bite of sweet delight, stop by Camarillo Cupcake.  YUMMY!

Camarillo Cupcake is located in the Carmen Plaze
389 Carmen Dr, Camarillo, CA 93010
Hours Tu-Sat 11 am – 7 pm, Sunday 11am – 5pm
Phone: (805) 755-5004
Visit:  Camarillo Cupcake

Photo Credits: Raven West

Raven West is a free-lance writer and published author who has lived in Ventura County for more than twenty years. She has an extensive knowledge of local wineries from Thousand Oaks to Ojai and will be covering special events which take place at the tasting rooms throughout the year.Named in the TOP 50 Authors by Authorsdb.com

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