The much-anticipated Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers is finally showing signs of life at Disney’s Boardwalk. After a year-long delay, the restaurant’s exterior is now adorned with twinkling lights on its signage, hinting at the whimsical atmosphere guests can expect when it opens in 2024.
A Sweet Addition to the Boardwalk
Originally slated to open in 2023, the Cake Bake Shop is now expected to welcome guests in 2024. The location has both a restaurant and a bakery, and will offer afternoon tea service.
The Cake Bake Shop is best known for its elaborate 3-layer cakes, each taking up to six hours to create. The restaurant will serve 12 cake varieties daily, all hand-stacked, hand-decorated and hand-cut. Beyond these decadent desserts, guests can look forward to a fanciful atmosphere.
In addition to its famous elaborate cakes and afternoon tea service, The Cake Bake Shop will feature a highly anticipated champagne bar. Guests can look forward to sipping marvelous champagne and fanciful cocktails in an elegant setting. The restaurant promises an extraordinary and enchanting experience, serving up storybook sweet treats and delectable desserts.
The twinkling light effects, which are now visible from Disney’s Boardwalk in the evening hours, add a literal element of sparkle to the space. The restaurant & bakery is still surrounded by construction walls, but stylistic exterior element have started to blend the facade with the rest of the boardwalk’s charm.
The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk Delays and Progress
While construction has moved at a slower pace than anticipated, recent activity suggests the Cake Bake Shop is on track for a 2024 opening:
- Exterior work has progressed steadily, with new windows installed, signage illuminated, and facades seemingly complete
- Interior work has been moving quickly this year after the demolition of the ESPN Club space
- The restaurant has been actively interviewing and hiring staff for a few months
From ESPN Club to Cake Heaven
The Cake Bake Shop is replacing the former ESPN Club, which closed its doors permanently in 2022 after nearly three decades of operation. The sports-themed restaurant and bar was an opening day original at the Boardwalk in 1996.
Demolition on the ESPN Club began in July 2022 to make way for the new restaurant. Crews removed the old signage and decorations, carefully protecting the Boardwalk’s iconic wooden planks in the process.
We’ll continue to monitor the progress of this new dining option, as it hopefully nears opening for the holiday season.
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