The problem with success is that you outgrow things.
When Connie and Ryan Oickle launched their "Gratify" vegan cheesecake business back in 2017, they made use of a modest shared space in the kitchen of the Dream Cafe. A year later, sales were strong enough to prompt a move to a larger subleased space at Pulse Kitchen.
And now, they've upgraded again. Except this time, the relocation is likely a bit more permanent.
And that's because their new kitchen has everything they ever wanted. It's bigger than the previous two, which gives them more room to create and store their cakes and deserts. And it's completely private, so they can finally set their own rules and schedules.
But that's not all. There's something else about the new space that compelled Connie and Ryan to go for it the moment they knew it was available. It's a storefront.
And come this Saturday, for the very first time ever, the Gratify team will begin selling their popular cheesecakes and goodies over the counter to anyone who walks in the door.
"This was always the goal," said Connie Oickle in the midst of final preparations for their Saturday grand opening. "It was the natural next step. It had to be done."
"The other places were great. They got us to where we are now. But we wanted our own space, that was ours, where people could come pick up. We were really looking forward to a point where we could just set our own hours and have people drop by during those times."
The Oickles took possession of the shop - at 469 Main Street, in the heart of downtown - in January.
According to Connie, "Ryan jumped on it right away, within a few hours. And our landlord has been amazing. She already knew us through our business, so she was pretty stoked to have us in here."
The past few months have been far busier than usual for the Oickles as they converted a former barber shop (Mark the Barber) into a cheesecake storefront and kitchen - while at the same time continuing to make and market their products.
And on top of all that, Connie is pregnant. She's expecting at the end of June. "Yeah," she laughed. "I'm feeling a little tired these days."
"We painted every surface, did all the plumbing, all the electrical, all the lighting, got a new hot water tank and new flooring in the back. And that's not all of it."
And sometime between now and Saturday morning, they'll hang a slick new sign over their front door.
Prospective and returning customers should note that the new Gratify storefront offers certain perks. You can, for example, stroll into the shop anytime during regular hours and order single-serve items such as a slice of cake or a single brownie. That's a whole new wrinkle.
Still, the Gratify menu is extensive - nearly twenty flavours of 100-percent vegan cheesecakes and other whole food deserts and snacks such as granola bars, raw brownies, and energy balls. As such, Connie and Ryan can't guarantee that every flavour and every item is ready to go at all times.
So they recommend that large orders and orders for specific flavours be placed in advance, either by calling the shop directly at 250-493-1997 or going through the Gratify website.
Gratify's new era begins this Saturday, April 13th at 11 a.m. The shop will be open all seven days during its first week, then move to its permanent Tuesday through Saturday schedule (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) going forward.
