PRESERVING FAMILY LEGACIES: Maria Isabel’s Journey with Cake Land
Maria Isabel, owner of Cake Land (formerly Denisse Party Supplies), has transformed a cherished family tradition into a thriving community hub. Her journey began long before she opened her doors in 2003—back in her mother’s kitchen, when she was just seventeen and pregnant with her first daughter.
“I followed in my mother’s footsteps, first baking cakes at home before eventually opening my business,” Maria shares. “Making cakes has always been my passion, but I knew nothing about running a business.”
For years, Maria poured her heart into her craft, but in 2024, she took her business to the next level with the help of a Spark Loan from CEDS Finance. The funding allowed her to purchase new equipment, invest in advertising, and rebrand her business to Cake Land. “I used to run my business like a hobby,” she says. “Now, I am a business owner!”
CEDS provided more than financing—it offered guidance and tools to strengthen Maria’s business operations. Today, Cake Land is not only a place to order cakes and party supplies but also a space for learning and connection. Maria regularly hosts community baking classes, sharing the skills she’s developed over 34 years in pastry making.
“It’s important to me not to keep that knowledge to myself, but to share it with people who want to learn,” she says. “Through that, I want to create a sweeter world and help those in my community gain skills for extra income.”
What makes Maria proudest is how her business honors her mother’s legacy. “I feel like my mom is still with me,” she says. “She started making cakes, and if I hadn’t seen her doing it, I wouldn’t be here now. I keep her present with me every day through my work. Sometimes I even say, ‘Let’s bake together,’ and maybe that sounds crazy—but I know she’s with me.”
CEDS Finance is proud to support Maria’s dream and the lasting impact she continues to make in her community.
