Secilia Zamudio and Yvonne Callison met at a gym and as they became friends, discussed how they wanted to start a business. And they finally did – together.
“That’s where the idea was born,” said Zamudio, co-owner of Cielito Rosa Bakery & Cafe. “We were stay-at-home moms and we wanted to do something for ourselves. We wanted to create something new.”
That something they wanted would capture their Hispanic culture but in a modern way.
They decided to do more than dream.
Dreams are fine “but that doesn’t help you to keep going,” said Callison. “It was the right time to start something different and to grow a business.”
The pair did not know how to start a business so they started off slow, selling protein drinks, doughnuts and cookies to gym members.
They went to farmers markets and talked to vendors for advice.
Finally, in May 2024, the women opened their first bakery at 1720 W Southern Ave, Mesa, where they offer coffee, plant-based energy drinks, pastries, macarons, brownies, croissants, cheesecakes, custom cakes and cookies.
“We offer conchas poquitos (small sweetbread cookies) and tres leches cake, our most popular,” Zamudio said.
Added Callison: “We’re also going to add more savory items to the menu because we’ve been noticing the demand on it.”
“We change our menu every two weeks so we try to have something for everyone,” Callison continued. “We do listen to our customers. If customers ask for something, we’ll add it to the menu. We’re open to suggestions. We want to please our customers because they’re the most important thing for us.”
A year into it, Zamudio said it’s been a good experience – and a busy one as they have added two locations in Phoenix. “We’ve been getting to know each other better. We spend more time with each other than with our husbands.”
Callison agreed, adding, “It’s like a marriage. It has to be a lot of communication. You are one with each other.”
The business partners want to expand but for now, they’re focused on running the Mesa and Phoenix bakeries.
“We’re trying to control these locations,” Zamudio said. “The sky is the limit and we want to grow more.”
The bakeries are open for brunch, breakfast, lunch and dinner 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday,
Information: 480-457-9614 or cielitorosabakery@gmail.com.
