With a name like Batter Up Cake Bakery, you know there is a sports fan behind the scenes. That would be owner Alyson Pomeroy, who these days wields a spatula instead of a leather mitt, making colorful confections for special celebrations and single-serve treats for customers needing a shot of sugar.
“Sports and baseball have always been part of our family,” says the Huntsville native and Chicago Cubs fan, who played basketball and softball in college, then watched her children play baseball and softball. It was while brainstorming with other parents when she was dreaming up her business plan that the pun Batter Up hit a home run.
My mother did this when I was younger,” Pomeroy says of how s he chose a kitchen profession. “She owned a catering business so I’ve been around this my whole life.”
Pomeroy, a graduate of Westminster Christian Academy and Montreat College in Montreat, N.C., made a hobby of baking treats at home for her friends. When divorce left her a single mother, she launched her own business to support her children. She opened Batter Up Cake Bakery at 6125 University Drive (University Place shopping center) in 2015, filling the space with the enticing aroma of cakes, cookies, pies and pastries.
With a staff of eight people, she fulfills orders for special events such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and showers, as well as for corporate events and gift baskets. First birthdays have become big business, with parents ordering a variety of goodies, such as the “1” cookies Pomeroy decorates in pink and white. Decorating ideas come from customers, from Pinterest, from Google and from her past work. She has made several armadillo cakes, inspired by the one in the movie “Steel Magnolias.” Mickey Mouse, Minions, monsters, emojis, football and the Stanley Cup also have inspired her designs.
One of the biggest challenges of the job is keeping up with the latest trends. It takes practice to master fads that might last just a few months. One current trend hearkens back to classic cakes: rosettes, such as the delicate icing roses on this pink baby shower cake. While designs can get involved, that is only part of the package. “Our goal is to be an affordable bakery that offers outstanding quality at an affordable price,” Pomeroy says. “We err on the side of price and taste first.”
For customers who walk in looking for a snack, her display includes Apple Blossoms (pictured), cheesecake, cookies, chocolate lava cakes, mini pies and cinnamon rolls.
Pomeroy’s faith guides her business philosophy. She aspires to make a living for her family, but also wants to help others provide good things for people they love. That is why she keeps prices at a level she believes is affordable. So far it seems to be working. Her staff is so busy they sometimes have to turn down orders. “It was,” she says, “a very big leap of faith to open this store.” For more photos, visit the Batter Up Cake Bakery web site at https://batterupcakebakery.com/ or the Facebook page Batter Up Cakes Huntsville.
by: Deborah Bennick
Deborah Bennick is a freelance writer and editor in Huntsville whose career spans 25 years working for newspapers and magazines in four states. She enjoys cooking, reading, volunteering and being outdoors.