Ann Arbor's Cake Nouveau officially moves into Packard Road location

“It’s just much nicer to work in,” owner Courtney Clark said. “I just feel like my brain is organized now.”

With its bright pink, purple and green walls highlighted with white swirls, the shop has maintained its old décor, which Clark describes as a “Willy Wonka French fusion.”

The new space, however, is more than twice as large as the old one and able to accommodate more cake orders.

Clark said earlier this year that she was having to turn down 8 out of every 10 cake orders at one point because demand was so high. Now with more space, two new shop assistants and a new kitchen assistant, Clark hopes to be able to take on more.

“We were just at our max only having two people in the kitchen,” she said. “It’s more relaxed now; it’s not stressful.”

Along with the new building come a few other changes, including additional treats.
Cake Nouveau is now offering cake truffles in addition to its weekly rotating selection of cupcakes, cookies and cake slices.

The new additions are rolled-up balls of cake and butter cream dipped in chocolate and other flavorings.

Flavors have included chocolate peanut butter, chocolate mint and banana salted caramel. But Clark said her most popular truffle so far has been the birthday cake truffle, a vanilla cake mixed with an extra sweet buttercream and rainbow sprinkles dipped in white chocolate and covered in more sprinkles.

“It’s kind of the classic birthday cake flavor,” she said.

Clark said she hopes to offer a selection of four truffles a day with flavors rotating every couple days.

Also new to the Packard Road location will be cake decorating classes starting this summer. The classes, ranging from beginning to professional level and children’s classes, will cover topics such as cake structure, princess cakes and fondant 101.

Though the shop has been open for a couple weeks, Clark said she is still adding furniture and additional touches to the space. She said she hopes to celebrate the new location with a grand opening in July.

“We just really hope that people follow us over,” she said. “Now we have free parking, too.”

Erica Hobbs is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2537 or via e-mail at ericahobbs@annarbor.com.