Chef Susan Ball of City Cafe & Bakery an experienced cake decorator for 36 years has been in the catering business for the past 25 years in San Angelo. Susan fell in love with the Art of Baking when she would help her Grandmother in the kitchen. She worked in a small bakery her senior year of her high school and learned the basics of cake decorating. While attending ASU, Susan decorated cakes as a hobby and became so proficient that she was asked to become an instructor. Soon after she began baking for Bentwood Country Club specializing in desserts. This in turn opened a door for her career to expand and she opened a small sandwich & bakery shop downtown. While downtown Southern Living Editors came to eat at her shop and were so impressed they published a recipe of hers in their actual cookbook.
Suddenly widowed, balancing life as a single mother and operating a business was quite a challenge. Her son Bradley soon went with his Mom to the bakery at age 3. Susan’s business grew when she moved to the Three Sisters Building until a fire destroyed six businesses including hers.
Forced to relocate she opened up a tiny shop on Pierce street and began full time catering. City Cafe & Bakery moved to the current location of 108 North Pierce with an expansion in 2007 with a showroom of linen, china and floral rentals. With the expansion, Susan’s devotion to hard work, vision for growth and potential helped her to win the Chambers Diversity Award in 2007. Her love for design grew and she incorporated Specialty Event Coordinating & Decorating Services to her repertoire.
Her son has now joined the business full time learning the tricks of the trade. Susan volunteers and gives back to the community with her favorite charities that are close to her heart. Still taking a personal interest in each one of her clients ensuring theirs desires and expectations are met. She has catered events up to 1200 guests to a dinner for two. She has catered for cowboys & country music legends to our state Governor. Her presentation, full customer service and pride in her food and pastries sets her woman owned business in a first class presentation.