Jan. 5, 2023

A longtime cake decorator is opening her first bakery in Harrisburg.

Emily Studemann has started Sugar Palace by Emily and will open in the former Subway space at 220 S. Cliff Ave.

“I’ve been doing cakes since I was a kid,” said Studemann, who moved to Sioux Falls from the Twin Cities in 2009 when her husband, Jeremy, relocated for work. “I have a long history with cakes.”

She was a professional cake decorator and over the years managed bakeries in Byerly’s grocery stores and for a small mom-and-pop grocer. Since moving to Sioux Falls, she has been making cakes for friends and did a pop-up shop at Chef Jeni & Co. before the holidays.

“It was just time,” she said of her reason for opening her own bakery. “It was just a feeling, and it was time. My kids are old enough now where I can be gone a little more.”

Her three boys attend high school and middle school in the Harrisburg School District. “We are Tigers through and through,” she said.

In addition to cakes, Studemann will sell cupcakes, cookies and brownies.

“Any flavor combination that you can possibly think of I’ll have there at some point or another.”

Customer favorites are chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting and vanilla ones with raspberry buttercream, Studemann said.

She said she has gained a reputation for her brownies, which she describes as “fudgy, gooey and very chocolaty.” She typically makes them without frosting but there will be frosted offerings with flavors such as peppermint, chocolate fudge and caramel.

She also does gluten-free treats.

The bakery will have seating so customers can enjoy dessert and a drink. She’ll have bottled beverages such as milk and juice, and will serve coffee.

Her cousin will make coffee bombs.

“It’s very similar to a hot cocoa bomb,” Studemann said. “You take a plain cup of coffee, drop the bomb, and you have a double mocha or a caramel espresso.”

She’s remodeling the space now – including a pink wall that’s just for her, something she does not have at home “with all these boys running around here.”

Studemannn hopes to be open by the end of the month or early February, but that will depend on the arrival of equipment. Keep tabs on the progress through her Facebook page.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.