Meet Kierra Mays | Cake Artist & Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kierra Mays and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kierra, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Well I knew what I wanted to do with my life by the time I turned 8. I would watch shows on the food network of cooking and baking competitions and one day I saw them make a life size monsters inc cake that was completely edible and I fell in love. I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else when I grew up and thats when my journey to creating Keys Cakery began. Any chance I got I would make something for my family with the help of my mom or grandma. From then on my main focus was always baking and pastry with a goal of opening up my own bakery. Once I got to High school I took culinary arts at a performance school and from there I went to Kennesaw State University to get my bachelors degree in culinary arts and traveled to Lima,Peru to study baking and pastry. Once I got back I planned on getting my official degree in Baking and pastry to be a professional pastry chef specifically at Johnson’s and whales university in Miami. Unfortunately, once covid hit they shut down the Miami location and I was no longer able to attend. I had my whole life planned out up to that point so once I got the news I felt like everything had come to a stop because I didn’t know what to do next. After going through a bit of depression I decided to take a risk and do what 8 year old me would have wanted and quit my job to open up my online bakery called Keys Cakery.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Keys Cakery is a bake shop that serves a variety of cupcakes, cakes, cookies along with other dessert treat, and lemonades. We also provide allergy/diet friendly desserts available like vegan, gluten free and sugar free options. What makes Keys Cakery so special is that its truly a customizable dessert shop because we specialize in custom designed desserts like cakes, cupcakes, dessert boxes, and more! Our customers are able to customize cakes and other desserts for their weddings, birthdays, graduations, or any other special event.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had to take a a friend around the city the first stop I’d make would be the Beltline. There’s all types of food and drink spots to pick from. But specifically speaking I’d prolly stop by Illuminarium and then hit up one of the rooftop bars called Estrella or New Realm. The next day we’d visit the Georgia aquarium and walk around the city to cite see centennial park. After we’d stop at Dos Bocas for some Mexican food and then go to The Yard milkshake bar for dessert. The next day I’d take them to Atlantic station and get food and drinks at El Azteca and then do a little shopping around Atlantic station. On the third day I’d take them to Ponce city market. We’d stay there a good bit of the day and then head to the rooftop for some games and drinks. On the fourth day I’d go to Pokiboru a Japanese ramen shop and then head to little five points to the vendors markets they have to support local small businesses. On the fifth day I’d head up to sandy springs to visit the bamboo forest and end the day off at The Select restaurant and bar. On the sixth day we’d go to milk and honey for brunch and then head to reverb rooftop bar across from the Mercedes Benz stadium to watch the sunset. On the final day we’d have brunch again at the Ponce room snd then go to a braves game and finish the night off at the battery

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shout to all my friends and family that have supported my business and encouraged me to succeed. . You guys love and support really fills my heart and helps me keep going in times I want to stop. And I’d like to specially shout out my parents who’ve always been supported my dreams ever since I was a little girl. I wouldn’t be here with out them.

Website: https://www.keyscakery.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/keyscakery?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KeysCakery