photo courtesy of Dr. Shica’s Bakery

Known to many as the Southern Sweet Maker to the Stars, Shica Little is opening the doors of her first bakery at the Westfield Culver City Thursday, May 20. Dr. Shica’s Bakery began as an online and delivery business based in Los Angeles, but her red velvet cake (her mom’s special recipe) and brownies that she sold at a pop-up shop in a soul food restaurant on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood had people spreading the word about Little quickly. Oprah and her friend, Gayle King, love her cookies, and soon Dr. Shica’s Bakery was in the top three on Oprah’s Favorite Things out of 15,000 entries. Little was featured as a Black small business owner on “Good Morning America.” All of this visibility and recognition led her to open her first brick-and-mortar bakery. Little hopes her accomplishments inspire other women of color to work hard and aspire to their dreams.

“I am proud to be a Black woman business owner,” she said. “We can provide jobs to our community, and we are able to inspire young women who may want to start their own businesses. Best of all, we have been able to bring desserts and smiles to people’s homes during this pandemic and now we get to introduce our new retail bakery at Westfield Culver City.”

The official grand opening is Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. To celebrate the occasion, she is offering 20% off her online site all weekend. Use code OPENING20. Orders will ship next week. On Friday and Saturday, the bakery is open from 10 a.m to 9 p.m., and on Sundays from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. Visit drshicasbakery.com. 6000 Sepulveda Blvd., (818)452-3540.