Local Business Spotlight: Brick and Cake

Meet Ernesto Luthje, owner of Brick and Cake, a new bakery that opened in Roscoe Village during the pandemic. Read our interview with Ernesto for the inspiring story of how he started his own business and the reason behind his bakery's name.

​Give us a small backstory of how your business started.
I am originally from the Dominican Republic and came to the states eight years ago, living in Chicago for the past year. I worked in the food and beverage industry as a banquets manager for a hotel, but was laid off as the hotel wasn't hosting banquets due to the pandemic. My grandmother, Germania, was a baker and I used to bake with her when I was younger. She made the most beautiful wedding cakes. I had been cooking her recipes during the pandemic and decided to start my own bakery to bring her delicious recipes from the Dominican Republic to Chicago.

What are some of your favorite moments of running your business?
I love interacting with customers and meeting members of the community. Everybody is so nice and friendly. I want my space to be a welcoming place for people to connect and enjoy a delicious treat.

Do you have any hobbies that you do outside of running your business?
My hobbies are meditating in front of the lake or any place where there is water in conjunction with going to the gym and watching a lot of food programs on TV.

What is one of the best pieces of advice you have received?  
The best advice I have received is to start with something, with the minimum, but start. That is why I named my bakery Brick and Cake. A brick is an excellent tool to start building something because without the first brick, there are no castles. 

What are the best ways people can support your business right now?
The best way people can support my business is by sharing about us to their friends and family through social media. Word of mouth definitely helps us a lot.