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 and cupcakes, cookies, macarons, and pies, and also served 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.
The 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] Unicorn operated within the mixed-use development known as Jolene's First Cousin, which was built by Guerrilla Development.[7] The business had a subscription service in which baked goods were delivered to customers.[8]
Menu
The menu featured gluten-free and vegan baked goods. The "unicorn bar" was described as a "rainbow-flecked sugar-cookie bar piled with frosting and super-adorable sprinkles". Macaron offerings included a colorful sherbet variety and another decorated to resemble a cheeseburger. The "Defund the Police" cookie had pieces of Andes Chocolate Mints. Unicorn also sold a "Universal Preschool" vegan cookie. Blueberry-waffle, chocolate, Funfetti, lemon, Oreo,[9]red velvet, strawberry, and vanilla were among cupcake varieties.[1][9]
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] The website said cakes were decorated with "colorful, sparkly frosting, unicorn horns, sprinkles, and—in certain cases—piles of cookies". Varieties included Funfetti and strawberry, using various buttercream options and fillings such as raspberry jam. "Mini" and full-size cakes were available.[10] Unicorn also offered pies,[8] coffee, and tea.[3]
Unicorn was owned by Carrie Padian, who started operating a home kitchen in 2016.[3][7] In January 2019, during the 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, Unicorn offered 4-inch (10cm) "custom celebration cakes" or a $40 discount on larger orders for federal employees in financial stress.[12]
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 just in time for the Leap Year grand opening.[4]
Unicorn was among approximately 100 businesses in the Portland metropolitan area to participate in the second annual "Shop Small Win Big" event, which supports local businesses, in 2022.[8] In late 2023, Padian said Unicorn was experiencing a financial strain. She wrote on social media:
The shop is just not making enough sales to continue in its current form. We're not the first small business this is happening to and we won't be the last. I urge you to please spend your dollars with locally-owned small businesses as much as humanly possible in 2024. We are all in survival mode in this economy but I firmly believe the thing that will keep us together is community support and mutual aid. And buying local is a vital part of that.[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.[13] Padian continued to fulfill custom cake orders from her home after Unicorn's storefront closed.[10]
Reception
In 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".[10] The magazine VegNews included Unicorn in a 2024 list of the 16 best bakeries in the nation for vegan cupcakes.[1] Denise Castañon of PDX Parent recommended the bakery for "[making] your kiddo's birthday (or any day!) a little more enchanting with a kaleidoscope-colored treat".[2]NW Kids Magazine recommended Unicorn for custom cakes for birthday parties and celebrations.[14]
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