Dracut's Sugar Coated turns its focus to cakes

From left at the Aug. 19, 2023 ribbon-cutting for the reopening and rebranding of Sugar Coated Cakes are Meaghan St. Jean, a member of the Dracut Economic Development Committee; owner Jennifer Gryckiewicz and her staff, Kim Kaeding, Lizzie Anthony and Alyssa Bouchard; and Board of Selectmen Chair Alison Genest. (Dracut Economic Development photo)

Some of the goodies available in the display case at Sugar Coated Cakes. (Dracut Economic Development photo)

A cake in the shape of a guitar Sugar Coated Cakes created for Lowell Memorial Auditorium to present to country singer Martina McBride. (Courtesy Sugar Coated Bakery, via Dracut Economic Development)

DRACUT — Jennifer Gryckiewicz opened her small bakery in Bridgewood Plaza, 1794 Bridge St., Unit 13A, in 2010, and it didn’t take long for Sugar Coated Bakery to make a name for itself.

Aside from being one of Dracut’s go-to bakeries for custom-made cakes, Sugar Coated soon earned spots on three TV shows — Food Network’s “The Big Bake” and “Chopped Sweets,” and Netflix’s “Sugar Rush,” where they won their episode and $10,000. (The episode, Season 1, Episode 4, is still streaming on Netflix if you want to watch their victory.)

Earlier this summer, 13 years after opening, Gryckiewicz decided it was time for some updates. She closed up shop for about six weeks for some changes to the interior and exterior of the building.

But those weren’t the only changes. When she officially reopened the shop on Aug. 19 — with Dracut Economic Development holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony — it came with a new name and a rebranding, of sorts.

“I decided to rename the shop Sugar Coated Cakes to reflect the fact that we’re focusing more on custom cakes,” said Gryckiewicz, a lifelong Dracut resident.

The shop will still be open to the public for walk-in sales of cakes, cupcakes, cookies and other treats, but she wanted to shift the focus of the business to what has made them a favorite among locals with a sweet tooth — their elaborate and creative cakes.

Gryckiewicz and her crew at Sugar Coated Cakes — Lizzie Anthony, Kim Kaeding and Alyssa Bouchard — pride themselves on creating whatever idea for a cake a client comes up with, including one in the shape of a guitar commissioned by Lowell Memorial Auditorium to present to country musician Martina McBride when she played there.

Gryckiewicz said another popular event that will continue at Sugar Coated Cakes is Cupcakes for Charity, in which they set up a table of cupcakes and other treats on the sidewalk outside the store (or inside in the case of inclement weather), and folks can grab some as long as they leave a food or monetary donation for Dracut Food Pantry.

The ribbon-cutting and grand reopening for Sugar Coated Cakes attracted a large crowd of proud family members and friends, in addition to Dracut Board of Selectmen Chair Alison Genest and Economic Development Committee member Meaghan St. Jean to congratulate Gryckiewicz and her crew.

Sugar Coated Cakes is open Tuesdays, 1-5 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. They’re closed Sundays and Mondays.

Call 978-226-8367, email [email protected], or visit dracutbakery.com.