Happy Hostess House

This place is a total hole in the wall gem! This is where my grandma always went for baking supplies, so it has a special place in my heart. I don’t come here often, but sometimes someone will ask me to make a cake or cupcakes for an occasion, so this is typically where I end up to get certain supplies.
It’s not very big, but there is a bunch of stuff crammed in here. Sprinkles, cake pans, cupcake and cake toppers, melting chocolate, chocolate molds, cake fillings, food coloring, birthday candles, boxes for cakes, cookie cutters, cupcake liners, etc. It’s a lot of fun looking through everything. I always spend way more time than I mean to in here.

I am truly in love with this place!
They can be a tad bit expensive. BUT, they are a specialty shop and not a chain store. So I do take those factors into consideration. This is not a place to buy in bulk. But certainly a place to consider if you need an individual item for a job you are doing or even a hobby cake collector.
The women in there are very nice and knowledgeable! I LOVE the fact that they carry Alpine for those times that I’m in a pinch and don’t have time to wait on a shipment in order to make some good old fashioned buttercream!
I always suggest this place when someone asks me where they should go to make A project (one project). I only say that because as I mentioned before, this is not a bulk supply store, and it’s perfect for those single projects or one of a kind needs.
The ONLY reason I did 4 stars, is only because they could consider modernizing their selection a tad bit. Plastic toppers, plastic figurines, are really «basic» and a reputable cake designer like myself, just doesn’t use those types of things. We strive to be different from chain store bakeries through our work. While having those types of things as part of your store selection, it cheapens things a bit. That’s my only «gripe».

This shop is wonderful! It is a Mecca of baking supplies. The nice old women who run this shop are such a delight. When I walked in they were trying to help a customer over the phone and it was the cutest thing I ever saw. Two old ladies searching for a pig cookie cutter.
That’s why i went in there. I needed cookie cutters. They have a TON. They have tiny, medium, large, individuals, and sets. They had 6 racks of cutters, some on the walls and a whole row of shelves. It was so cool. The whole rest of the store had great stuff, from all the newest baking trend decorations (edible glitter, shimmer powder, sparkle sugar) to the old stand bys (piping tips of every sort) They had tons of cupcake supplies, candy making molds, packaging. Everything. Prices were reasonable too! Of course, some things, like baking equipment were priced high, other items, like the cookie cutters were priced low comparatively.
The shop itself looks cluttered, but, it was actually organized and neat. It just has so much stuff it looks jumbled. These ladies would bend over backwards to help you with anything you need. They also offer cake decorating classes for a reasonable fee of $ 50 plus the cost of supplies (around $ 80 of supplies to start). They have a small back room where they do classes. Beginners classes start again in Feb and are popular they said. I think I may join in their next series! Because, lets face it. Anyone whose ever seen my cakes, knows they’re ugly! I need help!

The exterior of the building puts one in mind of a Texas Chainsaw House rather than the dwellings of a Happy Hostess. Open the rickety metal door and step into a dimly lit room, piled with various wares. Nobody will greet you, so just go straight to the shopping.
If you manage to shake off the chills or your initial impression of the place, you will find a great selection of baking and candy making supplies at very reasonable prices. The staff can answer your questions (if they have to), but won’t make you feel very good about having disturbed their daydreaming, or whatever it is they do instead of actively seeking to provide assistance.
Once you have made your purchases and scampered out of the building, get ready for the most fun you’ll have all day: getting out of their parking lot. I hope you make it out intact!

To use the words «humble» or «unassuming» when describing the outside of the Happy Hostess House would be an understatement. Close to the airport on a strip of Johnston Road, this little house looks to be an inch away from «rundown».
Step inside and there is a serious lack of natural lighting to brighten up the store. Not to mention it appears as if Happy Hostess moved in and never unpacked (It’s okay, I won’t judge — I haven’t unpacked since my last move). But start to walk around and you’ll get lost in a daydream of cake baking and sweets creation.
The staff is beyond friendly and willing to help at the drop of a hat. Questions? Ask away! Lady was able to assist me in figuring out what kind of edible glitter to buy for my project. The Happy Hostess also has a huge selection of frosting tips for all of your piping needs. It was like picking out a ring at a jewelry store — I wanted to try on everything!
In a perfect world I would love to see the Happy Hostess House located closer to the action surrounded by other retail locations. With a fresh coat of paint and plenty of natural sunlight. And organized. But the reality is that this cake decorating and supply outlet is still an amazing resource for all kinds of bakers!

To be honest, my first impression of this place was not good. From the outside the place looks like it’s falling apart and/​or closed down. Upon entering, I wondered if a hoarder worked there.
However, upon further review, I realized that there was organization to the madness! This place has everything you could ever want for cake or candy making. Who knew there were so many different types of cookie cutters, anyway?
The real kicker to this place is a woman named Lady (I know, how perfect is that?) that works there. She essentially held my hand and helped me through the entire process of what I wanted to do. She offered tips and tricks, and even cheaper alternatives.
I’ll definitely return for future cake making endeavors.