Reina Marcelle, La Más Dulce
Story by: Maggie Sivit
Photos by: Gaby Valladolid
“I had $25 to my name. But at the same time, I wanted it more than I could breathe.” - Reina Marcelle
When she was around 15 years old, Reina Marcelle's mother signed her up for a cake decorating class. “Little did I know that class would change my life forever,” she said.
Soon, Reina was baking and decorating tres leches and guayaba cakes for every neighborhood and family gathering. She made them in her family’s kitchen at the Lathrop Homes — where her mom, Mildred Pagan, later served on the advisory council, fighting to keep housing affordable for longtime residents.
In Latine households especially, Reina said cake is a symbol of coming together. “We celebrate everything,” she said with a laugh. “If your titi’s coming to town, your friend is visiting — you always need a cake.”
Reina went on to spend 30 years working as a cake decorator at grocery stores and bakeries across Chicago. But after three decades spent working for other people, she was ready for a change. She wanted to start her own business, and she knew just where she would put it: Humboldt Park. Growing up, Reina came to the neighborhood often to watch her mom play dominoes, and later to attend the Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade each year. “That’s what brought me back here, the childhood memories,” she said. “I always had a yearning to come back to Humboldt Park.”
But she struggled to figure out how to start a business without a storefront or even a vehicle.
“Why don't people start their own business? Because of money and fear,” Reina said. “Well, I had both. I had $25 to my name. But at the same time, I wanted it more than I could breathe.”
“Then, the idea of the carrito came,” Reina continued. In May of 2021, she bought a cart, painted it and put a colorful umbrella on it. She began walking around Humboldt Park for nine hours a day, every single day. “The thing that was difficult at first was that everyone thought I had popsicles or helados,” Reina said. “But when I opened [the cart] up, it was tiny cakes!”
Humboldt Park's New Sweet Spot:
Reina Marcelle's Colorful Cake Shop
There were days when Reina says the only thing that kept her going was support from her neighbors. People who saw Reina in the park day after day would stop her and give her coffee, breakfast or even just words of encouragement. And in return, she tried to pay the community back.
“I give away more cakes than I sell,” she said. “But God rewards and gives me double.”
Reina soon became known as the “Cake Lady of Humboldt Park,” a title she wears proudly. She made cakes for every person and every occasion: offering gluten-free cakes, sugar-free cakes, nut-free cakes and more in a dozen flavors. Neighborhood stores including Municipal Market and Yauco Food & Liquors began carrying her desserts. And she taught cake decorating classes regularly.
Her business grew each year. Reina, with her huge smile and warm laugh, radiates love for her community and has been blessed with it in return.
When a storefront opened up at 2550 W. Division St. last fall, neighbors came to her immediately and insisted she be the person to rent it.
The colorful cake shop officially opens on Saturday, April 13, with an opening day celebration that will feature face painting, food, and of course lots of cake.
Long term, Reina plans to open early weekday mornings and have bagels, donuts and other treats people can grab on their way to work or school. She’ll have cakes and cupcakes in all her signature flavors — including guava, carrot, coconut, and many more — and even pet-safe cakes for dogs.
More than anything, Reina hopes the brick-and-mortar storefront will provide a space neighbors can hang out, catch up and be together.
“Right between bandera y bandera,” Reina said. “And why not? I want to be a staple in my community.” She said she continues to be inspired by the work her mother, who was always her biggest supporter, did for her own neighbors. “I feel in my heart that I am carrying that torch.”
