Unicorn Bake Shop was a bakery in Portland, Oregon, United States.[1] Carrie Padian opened the storefront in southeast Portland's Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood in February 2020, after operating a home kitchen since 2016. The business specialized in gluten-free and vegan baked goods such as cakes, cupcakes, cookies, macarons, and pies, along with drinks including coffee and tea. Unicorn garnered a positive reception and was included in a 2024 list of the 16 best bakeries in the nation for vegan cupcakes by VegNews. The bakery's storefront closed permanently on February 29, 2024, after operating for exactly four years.
| Unicorn Bake Shop | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The bakery's exterior, 2022 | |
 Interactive map of Unicorn Bake Shop | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | February 29, 2020 |
| Closed | February 29, 2024 |
| Owner | Carrie Padian |
| Food type | Vegan |
| Location | 2824 Southeast Gladstone Street, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97202, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°29′36″N 122°38′13″W / 45.4932°N 122.6369°W |
| Website | unicornbakeshop |
Description
editThe family-friendly bakery Unicorn Bake Shop operated on Gladstone Street in southeast Portland, Oregon's Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood.[2] The interior had white walls and a pastel mural by artist Ryan Bubnis that depicted cookies, a roller-skating cupcake, and unicorns.[3][4] The Oregonian and Eater Portland described the bakery as "colorful" and "whimsical", respectively.[5][6] The magazine PDX Parent called Unicorn "joyful".[7]
Unicorn operated within the mixed-use development known as Jolene's First Cousin, which was built by Guerrilla Development.[8] The business had a subscription service that delivered baked goods to customers.[9]
Menu
editThe menu featured gluten-free and vegan baked goods. The "unicorn bar" was made of sugar cookie and had frosting and "super-adorable" sprinkles. Macarons included a colorful sherbet variety and another that was decorated to resemble a cheeseburger, while cookies included a "Defund the Police" option with pieces of Andes Chocolate Mints as well as the vegan "Universal Preschool". Among cupcake varieties were blueberry-waffle, chocolate, Funfetti, lemon, Oreo,[10] red velvet, strawberry, and vanilla.[1][10]
According to Eater Portland, Unicorn's desserts like cakes and mousses were not "saccharine sweet" because the owner preferred to use chocolate and salt for balance.[3] Cakes were decorated with cookies, "sparkly" frosting, and unicorn horns. Varieties included Funfetti and strawberry, using various buttercream options and fillings such as raspberry jam. "Mini" and full-size cakes were available.[11] Unicorn also offered pies,[9] coffee, and tea.[3]
Unicorn had holiday specials. For the holiday season in late 2021, the bakery offered special varieties, including Egg Nog and Orange Rosemary as well as the gluten-free Frostry and Salted Caramel Apple options. Unicorn also carried almond shortbread dipped in chocolate as well as gingerbread cookie bars.[7] In 2022, the business offered chocolate brownie bites in the shape of heart symbols, strawberry cupcakes dipped in chocolate, and sugar-cookie lollipops for Valentine's Day.[12]
History
editUnicorn was owned by Carrie Padian, who started operating a home kitchen in 2016.[3][8] In January 2019, during the 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, Unicorn offered 4-inch (10 cm) custom celebration cakes or a $40 discount on larger orders for federal employees in financial stress.[13]
In February 2020, Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland described Padian's plan to open a storefront for Unicorn on February 29.[3] The bakery's murals were painted by the time of the Leap Year grand opening.[4]
Unicorn was among approximately 100 businesses in the Portland metropolitan area to participate in the 2022 "Shop Small Win Big" event, which supports local businesses.[9] In late 2023, Padian said Unicorn was experiencing a financial strain. She wrote on social media that the shop made insufficient sales and urged its customers to spend their money on small businesses.[6]
Unicorn's shop closed permanently on February 29, 2024, after operating for exactly four years.[6] The Oregonian said the closure was part of a "rash of recent shutters" of local bakeries.[5] Similarly, KGW said the closure was among several local vegan establishments that stopped operating around the same time, including Blossoming Lotus, Fermenter, and Sweet Hereafter.[14] Padian continued to fulfill custom cake orders from her home after Unicorn's storefront closed.[11]
Reception
editIn Eater Portland's 2024 overview of recommendations for birthday cakes in the city, Michelle Lopez, Brooke Jackson-Glidden, and Janey Wong stated Unicorn was "ideal for kids' birthday parties",[11] a sentiment shared by Denise Castañon of PDX Parent.[2] The magazine VegNews included Unicorn in a 2024 list of the 16 best bakeries in the nation for vegan cupcakes.[1] NW Kids Magazine recommended Unicorn for custom cakes for birthday parties and celebrations.[15]
See also
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References
edit- 1 2 3 Pointing, Charlotte (July 19, 2024). "16 Bakeries With Vegan Cupcakes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth". VegNews. ISSN 1544-8495. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- 1 2 "Great Ideas for Family-Friendly Restaurants in PDX". PDX Parent. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (February 20, 2020). "A Colorful New Bakery Will Open in Creston-Kenilworth". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- 1 2 Leonard, Rita A. (April 3, 2020). "Unicorn Bake Shop opens on Gladstone Street". The Bee. Pamplin Media Group. OCLC 55663345. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- 1 2 Russell, Michael (February 28, 2024). "Portland's latest restaurant closures include Roseway Vietnamese restaurant, Sellwood gastropub". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. OCLC 985410693. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Wong, Janey (January 20, 2021). "Portland's Restaurant, Bar, and Food Cart Closures". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- 1 2 "Visit These Portland Dessert Shops for Kid-Friendly Holiday Treats". PDX Parent. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
- 1 2 "A New Approach to Development on Gladstone". Southeast Examiner. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Harlan, Kohr. "Kohr Explores: Portland businesses participate in 'Shop Small Win Big'". KOIN.
- 1 2 "A Sweet Bit of Magic at Unicorn Bake Shop". PDX Parent. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Lopez, Michelle (April 3, 2019). "Where to Order a Birthday Cake in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ↑ "Top 5 Valentine's Day Treats". PDX Parent. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ↑ Gabrielson, Kjerstin (January 16, 2019). "Government shutdown: Oregon deals, freebies and assistance for furloughed workers (updated)". The Oregonian. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Portland vegan Indian restaurant to close after 10 years". KGW. April 29, 2024. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Birthday Party Guide". NW Kids Magazine. August 31, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
External links
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