Emily Webb started baking birthday cakes for her kids. Nine years later, she employs six people and runs what she calls the only scratch bakery in Apollo Beach.

Tampa Bay Cake Company, at 1312 Apollo Beach Blvd., Suite G, opened its retail storefront in 2024 in the back of the plaza locals know as the Apollo Pizza plaza. Webb filed the business as a Florida LLC in 2017 after years of building a reputation from her home kitchen, the Observer News reported on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Webb had been taking history classes online at the University of South Florida with plans to become a museum curator when she pivoted to cakes full-time. The shop now turns out custom wedding cakes, filled cupcakes, oversized stuffed cookies, dessert bars and French macarons. Webb makes her own buttercream frostings, fondant and sugar flowers in-house, along with fresh banana pudding, five varieties of stuffed cookies, brownies and items branded as "Dough on the Go" and "Shark Buckets."

It's a family operation. Her six part-time employees include her mother, Patty, and her daughter, Madison. Webb lives in the Waterset community with her husband, Anthony, and their blended family of six children.

"I love people's reactions to the art we make," Webb told the Observer News. "I enjoy being part of their happiest occasions."

Lisa Sisson, a Waterset resident and co-owner of Knights Air, said she has ordered from Webb for 11 years, starting when Webb worked out of her home. Janice Bayruns, an Apollo Beach resident who owns FirstLight Home Care, said she was thrilled to finally have a scratch bakery nearby where she could stop in for treats for her office team and clients.

The bakery is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday. Orders for preset or custom cake designs can be placed in person or online at tampabaycakeco.com.