Free cake and lots of samples at new South Hill bakery

South Hill has a new bakery, where Bundt cakes in 10 flavors and 40 designs abound. Miniature versions could be yours — for free — every month for the next year.

Cindy and Steve Cullen opened their Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise at South Hill’s Rainier View Marketplace in November, only a week before Thanksgiving. The timing was not strategic, they said, but perhaps it was serendipitous.

“It never stopped,” said Cindy Cullen of the crowds throughout the holidays. “It was amazing how much the community supported us.”

To say thank you — and an official hello — the Cullens will celebrate with a series of grand opening activities this week.

First up, the Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce will attend a ribbon cutting on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

On Friday, the Cullens will donate 20% of all sales to the Communities in Schools organization of Puyallup, a nonprofit that supports students in seven schools through tutoring, mentorship and supply drives.

As a former kindergarten and first-grade teacher, Cindy Cullen especially appreciates the Good Samaritan Readers program: Students meet with a volunteer weekly for one-hour reading sessions from the first through the third grade.

“Getting kids to read in that age group is really, really important to me,” she said. “I was a teacher. I loved my job.”

Those years of experience also mean she knows “what it’s like to be out there and trying to raise money.”

The Nothing Bundt Cake company encourages new owners to engage with their community, but it’s up to the store owners to decide to what extent.

“The bakeries that thrive are the bakeries that give,” said Cindy Cullen. Added Steve, a former software developer, “We wanted to become more involved in the community and help make it better and help spread the joy.”

PASSION FOR BUNDT CAKE

The Cullens have been enjoying the brand’s cakes for two decades, since they first walked into the original location — started by two friends in 1997 — in Las Vegas. The chain now boasts more than 330 bakeries in 39 states and Canada. Flavors range from Confetti, Red Velvet and Carrot Cake, to White Chocolate Raspberry and Pecan Praline, iced with butter-cream cheese frosting.

The couple moved to Orting after her brother and sister-in-law relocated to Gig Harbor. She had secured her teaching license and planned to return to the classroom, while he dabbled in photography. For his birthday in September 2018, Steve Cullen requested one of those signature Bundt cakes. The nearest location was an hour away in Issaquah.

His wife made the trek.

“I’ve always had a love for Nothing Bundt Cakes, the feel of the store and everything about it,” she said.

The next day she popped the question.

Ten minutes later, they were on the phone with the corporate office, and a month later they were in Dallas at headquarters learning the business and its baking regimen.

“We wanted to do something that we both enjoyed,” said Steve Cullen, but he knew they had to have a true passion for the product. “That was really the genesis of it: let’s do something with the community, but it’s also got to be something we love.”

Before opening their bakery doors, the couple ran around to 400 businesses, sharing dozens of Bunditinis (bite-sized cakes) they bought from the Issaquah location or baked themselves at a location near Portland, Oregon.

With two solid months under their belts, Cindy and Steve Cullen look forward to meeting more people this weekend.

On Saturday, they expect a line to form before they open at 10 a.m., when the first 50 customers will receive Free Bundtlets (miniature versions valued at $4.75 each, of the classic 8-inch or 10-inch cakes) every month for a year.

From noon to 2 p.m., the shop will host a balloon artist and a “cake-a-palooza” with all 10 flavors out for sampling.

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES - SOUTH HILL

Where: 17014 Meridian E., Suite 103, South Hill, 253-215-1050

Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Prices: $6.75 for a Bundlet Tower, $22 for a dozen Bundtinis, $25 to $43 for 8-inch to 10-inch cakes

This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 5:35 AM.