Who starts a business centered on something she herself dislikes?

Someone who loves her family and values what they like even more.

Suzanne Eggli’s current career all started with her family’s love of carrot cake.

She wasn’t a fan and found the cakes she tried elsewhere were subpar. So she set out to make a better carrot cake.

When she perfected the recipe, carrot cake became a staple in her house and was a gift she’d give to friends and family.

Her family gifted her a blog, called The Shredded Carrot, in 2014.

“My kids came up with that name,” Eggli said. “I always made carrot cakes for everybody.”

She would give them and other baked goods away. For instance, she used to take baked pies during the holidays to Alhambra Park and give them away for free to people who may not have been able to afford dessert. She considered it a way to make others happy by doing something she enjoyed.

That joy led her to open her bakery in Alhambra, The Shredded Carrot, in March 2017. The bakery sells cookies, pastries and cakes, including, of course, carrot cake.

Slowly but steadily, her customer base grew in its first few years. Then, the pandemic struck.

A lot of shops and family-owned businesses lost sales dramatically and some even went out of business during mandated closures. About 41% of businesses had to close at some point due to the pandemic, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Blocks away from Cal State LA, The Shredded Carrot was also impacted.

After all, who needs cakes when there are no birthday parties, weddings or quinceañeras?

Thankfully, The Shredded Carrot still did well by selling slices of cake and smaller individual sweets. On top of that, Eggli said neighbors and other Alhambra residents showed up and helped keep the business alive.

“They really came through. Seriously, Alhambra really came through for me. They were great. It was absolutely amazing. We lost very little during the two years,” Eggli said.

Eggli said her community-oriented work before opening her bakery may have helped and to this day, Eggli gives away cookie kits for kids during six major holidays throughout the year. And for holidays such as Easter and Christmas, the bakery showcases holiday figures and decor for kids to take photos with.

Customers say they enjoy visits to the bakery because of its sunny decor, its carrot cake and the aroma of freshly baked bread. The walls, adored with family photos and messages of gratitude, are orange and white with little carrots in spots.

Los Angeles resident Abigail Rodriguez raved about the carrot cake. 

“My sister got me a slice of carrot cake once because she knows I love carrot cake,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve been coming here ever since…It’s so good.” 

Emily Sartin, a third-year student at Cal State LA, said the bakery is a go-to spot.

“I like to get sweets from time to time, especially getting something small while studying,” she said. “It’s such a great bakery and it’s just down the street. I’m really glad it never closed.” 

What’s next for Eggli and the Shredded Carrot? She hopes to expand by opening another bakery.