Actor Ryan Gosling just gave a massive boost to a small Florida bakery. He recently appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers and raved about their homemade treats. Now, Tallahassee’s The Cake Shop is experiencing a Hollywood-sized business boom.
Here is how a celebrity plug turned this local mom-and-pop shop into an overnight national sensation.
The “Saturday Night Live” Connection
Gosling discovered the bakery through a very special backstage connection. The shop’s owner, Linda Richards, is the sister of Saturday Night Live wardrobe supervisor Donna Richards.
During his late-night interview, Gosling explained that Donna supplies the pastries backstage. He highly recommended them to viewers. “She gives them to you at the beginning of the show,” Gosling joked about hosting SNL. “You’re just running on Pop Tarts the whole time.”
The Viral “Popped” Tart
The bakery officially calls this viral pastry the “Popped” Tart. Gosling specifically requested the strawberry flavor. However, the shop also bakes blueberry, cinnamon, and peanut butter and jelly versions.
The Cake Shop has successfully served the Tallahassee area for over 25 years. Richards draws inspiration from her father, a former chef. She fills the bakery’s menu with classic, comforting family recipes.
A Sweet Business Boom
Gosling’s television plug created an immediate frenzy. The timing also added a fun twist to the story. The bakery was actually closed for spring break when the interview aired. The staff returned to an overwhelming wave of pent-up demand.
“It was a total shock,” Richards told local news outlets regarding the sudden spike in orders. She described the massive surge of national exposure as being “blown into another universe.”
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