NORFOLK, Va. — Editor's note: This story is a part of our "Friday Flavor" series.
Jen Anglin was working in the corporate world. She said her way of relaxing was coming home and baking.
"It just calmed my mind," she said. After years of being in this world, she started to question if this is what she really should be doing.
"Finally, I came home one day after an especially horrible day at work, and I told my husband I was going to quit my job, follow my passion, and see what it brought," Anglin smiled.
Following her passion, she brought Pownd Cakes by Jen to Norfolk in 2019. She only makes one kind of cake.
"It's a pound cake, but it sort of packs a punch!" said Anglin. "We use the same ingredients we just put the cake together a different way.
The secret? The butter goes on top of the cake. It's a game-changer. It makes such a difference; that's why she chose to change the spelling of her shop.
"So instead of the regular pound, it's going to be 'pownd' cake, and it will knock your socks off," Anglin smiled.
The cakes are moist, not too sweet, and so delicious.
"We have 30 flavors available in our mini cakes every day. We offer gluten-free options as well," Anglin said.
You can come in, pick one or several mini-cakes, and go! It's so easy and so good! You can also pick up a medium or large cake or order ahead if you want a specific flavor.
"We do samples of every flavor of cake we offer, so you can come in here and try them!"
And no, there are no bells and whistles, "We don't frost it, we don't write on them; they just stand on their own," Anglin nodded.
For Anglin, running her shop brings joy that she would never have experienced in the corporate world.
"People dance when they taste the cake or praise the heavens above. I mean, seriously, where do you get to do that?" She laughed and looked around the storefront. "It is humbling to me that people know our cakes and share our cakes and tell the stories that they tell."
She knows that life could be very different today, but she is glad she followed her passion nearly five years ago.
"We know what we get to do every single day with our customers is a privilege. We get to make people happy."
"I unlock the door every day, and I cannot believe that this is what Pownd Cakes has become."
If you would like to give Pownd Cakes by Jen a try, go to 314 W 21st St, Norfolk, VA 23517.