Brown Sugar Bakery

I really had high hopes before coming here. My birthday is coming up and I was in search of a cake bakery. I heard about the unfortunate Carmel cake robbery here from 2 weeks ago. I instantly thought, wow the cakes must be really good. I made it a special trip to go, bringing my mom and sister with me. Upon walking in, the place reminded me of an old dingy bar that need serious updating. I noticed the cakes and pastries in the cases down below. They looked pretty good too. There were to women working behind the counter, one looking like the owner, and the other a young dark brown skinned girl. there were 3 people in the line ahead. When a customer had a question, the young lady demonstrated and explained with one glove on, with her other glove free-​hand she wiped her nose with the back of her hand. Instantly my siblings and I didn’t want a slice of cake. As we looked for the cupcakes, the older women helping other people and she was moving so fast with the cakes, the slices were falling on the wrack that was holding the cake up in the case. When I and others tried to let her know, she simply said «that’s not going to stop the party.» She didn’t pick them off the deep freezer like racks. My sibling and I work in health careers and this was very offsetting. When my family and I tried to order our cupcakes and engage in conversation, the older women was dismissive and short, and she told the other young lady to help us. The young lady was very helpful and nice, but you couldn’t help but notice the slight attitude. In all I did not want to write a review like this, I wanted this to be a great experience. I love to support small businesses such as this one and I’m just disappointed in what I experienced. I will not be coming here again and I don’t recommend it. I highly advise this business to work on their cleanliness, to promote good health and product for their customers.

We first discovered Brown Sugar Bakery when it first opened. After one free taste of the caramel cake… we were hooked and have been going ever since. I think she makes the absolute best caramel frosting EVER and the cakes are always moist. They would last for days if we didn’t eat them up — nearly before we even get them home! Please support this business… it is a gem!

I had tasted a few of Brown sugar bakery cakes and decided to order for Christmas Eve. I ordered a Pineapple upside down cake, a Turtle cake and a banana pudding. I informed the order taker (the owner Stephanie) that this was my first time ordering and she gave me a first time customer discount and a time to pick up. She advised me to be patient when I pick up because it would be crowded. I totally understood because her bakery is popular.
I sent my daughter to pick up at my designated pick up time (1 o’clock). First problem: they couldn’t find my order, smh… then they found it (my name was spelled wrong) but my daughter was told that I couldn’t have the pineapple upside down cake, no explanation other than sorry a mistake was made. Either I could pick another cake or have my money back. I find/​found that unacceptable! I placed and paid for an order in advance only to be disappointed and let down without what appears any accountability. No explanation, nothing!!! As if this has happened before. I am really disappointed! Good Service means EVERYTHING in the success of a business. I would assume that a check and balance would be in place in efforts to ensure that errors such as this wouldn’t occur. I gave 3 stars because the cakes I’ve tasted by brown sugar bakery have been good but my experience as a first time customer has been disappointing…

Went in yesterday right before closing maybe 6:58. I figured they were still open since the sign on the door still said open. The cashier then expressed that she was about to close. I asked about a slice of cheesecake and was told they didn’t have any. I then looked at the variety of cakes in the display (at least 9) and then I was told they didn’t really have anything. It was obvious they were ready to go home and didn’t want my business. I then asked «Do you want me to leave?» I try and support local businesses but it saddens me when I get poor service. I won’t be returning to this bakery as I drove too far to get there and feel unwelcome. I’ve worked in the restaurant industry and we would still service customers until the time we close. Not before. If you close before 7pm change your hours on Google because that is very misleading.

I placed an order this week but had to leave a message based on the voice mail instructions stating to do so and within 24 hours you would get a call back. I did not get a call back. So I called was put on hold twice and when I told the worker I left a message of my order she snapped at me in a tone that was unprofessional saying they cannot take orders from messages yet not acknowledging I did not get a call back. I have placed an order for pickup next Saturday. The order is sizeable. Based on the outcome I may or may not be back. This order is for a friend who I raved to about this Black owned business. The times I’ve been here I’ve looked pass the rude service but my limit has been met. I’m hoping my order is ready next week without delay and I’m not met with rudeness. If so, that’s it for me with Brown sugar

Cake is 5-​star, hands down — possibly some of the best in the city. Service? Maybe 1 star. Had an incredibly, unnecessarily rude encounter with the owner recently after being a customer — and often referring others — for several years. As passionate as I am about supporting black and brown businesses, I’ve hit the threshold with this one. No cake is good enough to tolerate a level of rudeness and unprofessionalism that fails to meet even the lowest standards of human decency and respect.

I have really tried for the past 3 – 4 years to make this my bakery of choice. However, they do not seem to realize that no matter how goody heir product may be, there is always somewhere else that is comparable or better. My problem is not so much with the product but with the lack of professional and customer service. This pass Thanksgiving, I go to the store only to be greeted with «what do you want?»;” did you preorder?”. Just rough and raw. The saddest pRt is that the owner is usually in house and seems goth ink there is nothing wrong with the behavior of her staff. I truly want to support black owned businesses but we have to do better in regards to the treatment of the customers.

I came in just as they were opening. My mind was immediately set on a Carmel cupcake. It was warm and delicious. It took me a few minutes… so good and fresh I sucked it up with a straw! Not really, but it became good friends with my stomach really fast. The owner was very nice and professional. A must if you want FRESH baked goodies.

Well, where should I start? Brown Sugar Bakery is full of it. I had a preorder of 3 sweet potato pies and one Carmel Cake? First they said come after 1:30pm, my husband went around 2:00pm they said come back at 4:30pm my husband did, not ready they gave him the cake and said come back before 9:00pm for the pies. No apologies. Still no piesThey were totally rude to their customers. Unprofessional.
So my question, When do we stop patronizing black business ??
No matter how good the food when the customer service is less than average at best.

My husband who is super finicky loved his 50^th birthday cake from Brown Sugar. Yellow cake with banana filling and whipped cream frosting. Thank y’all. We have one slice left of a quarter sheet cake!

Found this place and bookmarked through one of the food or cooking channels (wife and I watch a lot of tv while holding the newborn.)
Glad we found this place as the cake slices we had were great, especially the Pogy and Bess (or however it’s called.) The caramel is honestly like crack.
The owner Stephanie was there, but was on the phone at a table and even when we made eye contact didn’t even nod or acknowledge us. Thankfully, the girl at the counter was nice.
I don’t know. I want to give a higher rating, but although the cakes we got were good I don’t think it’s hit the level of some other places. Maybe it’s a 3.5 star overall, but the lack of warmth from the face of the bakery leads me to choose 3 instead of 4 stars.
Will we be back? Maybe, but really it is a detour to get out there and we left a bit disheartened after spending quite a bit here.

Walked in to the bakery about two weeks ago around 5:30. For the first time and found it to be quite busy and on top of that the credit car machine when down instead of losing there cool there customer service step it up a notche. I was truly please with that and the cake was worth the wait. Good job and I will be back

This place is great. The cake is moist. I had the turtle cupcake real good. The german chocolate frosting was good cake itself not so. The price is not too bad

I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of the bakery yesterday she is a very nice lady and gave me a very warm welcome upon entering the establishment .The atmosphere is very friendly and the employees make you feel like you’re right at home .
The strawberry cheesecake and the red velvet cupcake are both phenomenal!!! I also purchased 1 lemon cupcake 1 slice of the turtle cheesecake as well as 2 turtle cupcakes they were all good as well.
All items are reasonably priced and everything is well worth it.
There’s still a number of items I haven’t tried yet and I can’t wait to go back to do so
Thanks for reading

Not that great don’t taste the love in the cake or cup cakes it’s ight nothing to say i would go back too

If u get a cake made here, dont expect it to look professional like it should. The layers are leaning, the decorations look like something a kindergartner would do, etc. If they would invest in themselves some better cake decorating skills the way they do with their bad attitudes then this business would actually be worth patronizing. This woman’s staff is why there’s a stereotype in the black community now. Get it together brown sugar

I must say that the bakery goods are really really good here however I did have a piece of pound cake that appear to be stale and when I took it back instead of listening to my comment they offered too many excuses I didn’t really like that but for the most it’s a great experience.
As a member of the hospitality community it’s very important that your employees represent you in a positive way some of the girls have a slight attitude and aren’t as friendly so the customer service is inconsistent as it should be.

I’ve had great experiences at the bakery! All the cakes I’ve had were all delicious. The only reason I’m not rating it 5 stars, is simply because I ordered my 26^th birthday cake from them… which ended up looking more like a wedding cake and not how I explained.

I stopped in with my sister in law and friend and we tried the Carmel cream cheese cake and other items. The portions were huge and prices were right. So I began telling family and friends how great the cakes were.
This past Monday I stopped by with a few friends and a list of orders. I asked about the Obama cake but wasn’t sure if I’d like it so I just continued to read off the orders on my list. One of 2 ladies seated in the seating area asked if I would like to sample the Obama cake and I said yes. Right then the other woman who fit the description of the owner hushed the woman up and told her we don’t have samples. That was it. No «I’m sorry». Neither of these ladies even addressed me further. They just kept talking to each other as if the offer of a sample had never happened. Also the cake was right there in the shop on display. So how was there not enough to provide a sample to a potential buyer???
We spent over $ 40 and that’s on top of the multiple orders my large family and friends have placed here in the last month. The holidays and my baby shower is coming up. Guess which bakery wont be getting that business??? As a black woman from the south side of Chicago I try to support minority businesses and even give places with known histories of bad service a chance. I have worked in customer service and I know it can be challenging but if you make an offer stick to it. If its a mistake apologize and own up to it. Don’t simply ignore the customer hoping they won’t push the issue.
PS don’t waste your money on the cheesecakes. They haven’t mastered it yet. Stick to the cupcakes and cakes if you MUST shop here.

This is really 2.5 stars, because I like the caramel icing. That being said, the biggest turn-​off about Brown Sugar, for me, is not the mediocre, lackadaisical service that many others have mentioned. Service experiences vary from day to day. Besides, when I have a sweet tooth, chocolate cake takes precedence!
The problem I have with BSB is that most of the cakes I’ve tasted are lacking the homemade nuances I expect from a quality bakery cake. It is definitely a step up from Jewel, but not even as good as Angelica’s. Now that I think about it, I don’t recall there being much brown sugar/​molasses flavor to the caramel icing… Don’t get me wrong; they are tasty. It’s just that it’s a Duncan-​Hines-​Butter-​Recipe-​Mix tasty, rather than a we-​creamed-​the-​butter-​and-​sugar-​then-​added-​the-​flour-​and-​buttermilk-​alternately kind of tasty. But, hey, that’s what I get for being too lazy to make my own, huh?