Maggie Ray (left) has taken over ownership and operations of Lynn Magnoli’s Icing on the Cake Bakery in Los Gatos. Magnoli has sold his 39-year-old business and its prized recipes. (Photo courtesy of Icing on the Cake)
In February, Lynne Magnoli put her Icing on the Cake bakery up for sale for the first time in 39 years, with the goal of finding “a quality successor to continue to thrive and evolve this gem of a bakery.” announced that it would be released.
The search is over.
South Bay resident Maggie Ray, who worked at a bakery for five years before taking time off as a “stay-at-home mom,” bought the beloved Los Gatos business and its recipes.
Mr. Magnoli went public on social media this week, telling customers, along with Mr. Ray, “Icing on the Cake is OK.” “She recognizes the impact the bakery has within and beyond our community, what it means to our loyal customers and staff, and our history and heritage.”
Ray added his own note to the bakery’s Facebook page: “New owner…banana cake as delicious as ever!”
For customers and staff, it maintains the many traditions this bakery is known for, from its banana bestsellers to its amazing array of cakes (classic, loaf, pound, cupcakes), fruit and cream pies. It was a particularly encouraging sign of her dedication. Cookies, brownies, bars, baked goods for those with special diets, and more.
“What Lynn has built is phenomenal. I’m not going to change a fan favorite,” she said in an interview. “It would be foolish to buy a business and break it up when it’s doing so well.”
Ray, who started working at the IOTC front counter in 2009, is spending his first days back at the West Main Street store “expanding his knowledge,” learning recipes and reuniting with employees. She said, “The staff were very supportive.”
As a home baker, she said she had actually wanted to run a bakery for a long time.
“It’s a joy-inducing thing. Everyone feels like eating cake or cookies brightens their day.”
A self-taught baker, Magnoli began her baking career as a child in a vintage 1965 Easy-Bake oven and built her first Icing on the Bake in 1985 in an old house off North Santa Cruz Avenue. I opened the cake. She moved her store to West Her Main Street in 2001. It expanded into an adjacent space in 2013.
“I believe Icing will continue, grow, and improve in the same familiar and fresh ways it has always been,” she wrote in the announcement. “There are positive changes that come with new ownership, and we look forward to supporting Maggie and our team with this transition.”
Details: Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 50 W. Main St. in Los Gatos. Phone orders (408-354.2464) are accepted starting at 8 a.m. www.icingonthecakebakery.com
