Reeves Cake Shop in Kenmore to Close After 50 Years

Akron's iconic bakery to shut down in December after serving generations of customers

Apr. 11, 2026 at 10:10am

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An abstract, impressionistic scene of a cozy bakery interior, with soft, blurred pools of golden light and muted colors evoking a sense of nostalgia and community.As the Reeves family prepares to close the doors on their beloved Kenmore bakery after 50 years, the shop's warm, welcoming atmosphere will be deeply missed by the community.Akron Today

After 50 years in business, the Reeves Cake Shop in Akron's Kenmore neighborhood will be closing its doors in December. The family-owned bakery, founded by Dolores Reeves in 1976, has been a beloved institution, serving up scratch-made cakes, cookies, and pastries to the community. With the owners now reaching retirement age, the difficult decision has been made to shutter the shop, though they will continue operations through the holiday season.

Why it matters

The closure of Reeves Cake Shop marks the end of an era for Akron's small business community. As large chains and corporate bakeries have risen, family-owned shops like Reeves have struggled to maintain a foothold. The Reeves family's 50-year legacy is a testament to their dedication, creativity, and connection to their local roots - values that are increasingly rare in the modern retail landscape.

The details

Reeves Cake Shop first opened its doors in 1976 when Dolores Reeves, then 44 years old, founded the business with her late husband Robert. The shop started on East Avenue before moving to its current location on Cory Avenue in 1989. Many of the bakery's recipes were passed down from Dolores' parents, who operated a previous bakery in the Kenmore neighborhood. Over the decades, Reeves has served generations of customers, baking for over 10,000 weddings. The shop is known for its wide variety of scratch-made cakes, cookies, and pastries, with manager and chief baker Rick Reeves having memorized the recipes for dozens of gourmet flavors.

  • Reeves Cake Shop first opened in 1976.
  • The shop moved to its current location on Cory Avenue in 1989.
  • Dolores Reeves, now 93 years old, has been working in the bakery business since she was 12 years old.
  • The bakery will close on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2026.
  • The cut-off date for orders will be December 17, 2026.

The players

Dolores Reeves

The 93-year-old founder of Reeves Cake Shop, who has been working in the bakery business since she was 12 years old.

Robert R. Reeves

Dolores' late husband, who co-founded Reeves Cake Shop with her in 1976 before passing away in 1981.

Rick Reeves

The 64-year-old manager and chief baker at Reeves Cake Shop, who has memorized the recipes for dozens of the bakery's gourmet cake flavors.

Terry Walquist

Dolores' 74-year-old daughter, who serves as the office manager, baker, and bookkeeper at Reeves Cake Shop.

Ryan, Rachel, and Ross

Rick Reeves' children, who grew up at the bakery but pursued other careers as adults.

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What they’re saying

“It's a sweet job. Oh, goodness.”

— Dolores Reeves, Founder, Reeves Cake Shop

“We do everything from scratch. And when we say scratch, it's scratch. Sugar, flour, eggs. And, really, nobody does that anymore. A lot of people say they do scratch, but it's using a mix and then doctoring it up.”

— Rick Reeves, Manager and Chief Baker, Reeves Cake Shop

“Everybody has been so nice. It's just been a wonderful 50 years. We've made so many friends.”

— Rick Reeves, Manager and Chief Baker, Reeves Cake Shop

What’s next

Reeves Cake Shop will host a free cake tasting event on April 29, 2026 from 5 to 7:30 pm, offering samples of their traditional and gourmet cake flavors as they prepare to close the bakery's doors for good in December.

The takeaway

The closure of Reeves Cake Shop after 50 years in business marks the end of an era for Akron's small, family-owned bakeries. As large chains and corporate bakeries have risen, Reeves has remained committed to its scratch-made recipes and community-focused values, serving generations of loyal customers. Though the Reeves family is retiring, their legacy will live on as a testament to the power of independent, mission-driven businesses to thrive in the face of industry changes.