Here's a story about a WNY Woman that runs a great business in Lockport. Stop in for a cake pop!

From metrowny.com:
Lockport- Focusing on taste and flavors, Sweet Sixteen Café has been open for business in Lockport for a little over a year.

Opening on Sept. 30, 2010, the café sells a wide variety of desserts, foods and coffee.

Sisters Ellen Martin, Ann Connelly and Kathy Martin own Sweet Sixteen. Ellen, who lives in Lockport, runs the day-to-day aspects of the business, while Ann, who lives in the Washington, D.C. area, creates the menu and dessert choices.

“Anne is a great baker,” said Ellen.

Kathy, who lives in Boston, is also very involved in the café, especially with helping get the business up and running. Both sisters travel back to Lockport often to help with the café.

Their younger brother Jack Martin and his business partner Carm Beiter own the group of buildings the café is located in and J. Fitzgerald Group.

Ellen said that when they first saw the “beautiful” space the idea came to life and they knew they wanted to open Sweet Sixteen.

Sweet Sixteen is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Ellen said that each day three sandwiches are offered, with every day being a little different. Salads, soups and quiche are also available.

With every meal ordered, Sweet Sixteen gives customers a special treat, a mini cupcake.

“We love dessert,” said Ellen. “If you eat a lot you don’t want a big dessert. So this is the perfect end to a meal.”

On the sweeter end, the café makes cupcakes, biscotti and cookies to order. They also can create wedding, birthday and other holiday cakes.

Another favorite is Sweet Sixteen’s cake pop. Unlike the traditional pop, their dessert features several layers of cake with frosting in the middle, surrounded by chocolate. The pops come in several different varieties and flavors, including dark and white chocolate. The pops were a fan favorite at the Taste of Lockport.

“A lot of this is from our childhood,” said Ellen. “What we had as a kid.”

Their mother Jenny Martin has lived in Lockport for more than 50 years. She still comes in the cafe to make homemade soups.

All of the dessert and menu items are made right on site. Ellen said that when they created the look of the restaurant they wanted an open concept. The open kitchen look gives the feeling of “mom’s house,” where you can sit and watch the cooking, said Ellen.

The Martin family grew up in Lockport. Out of the six children, Jack was the one to stay, followed by Ellen who moved away and then returned a few years ago.

“This is such a happy place to be,” she said. “People in Lockport are genuinely nice people and want local businesses to succeed. It’s a nice place to be.”

Ellen enjoys watching the connections that are made by people who come in Sweet Sixteen.

“People make friends as they sit here,” she said. “There is a sense of community that this place fosters.”

Ellen said that Sweet Sixteen has a modern and chic feel to it, while also being warm and inviting.

“Lockport needs places like this,” she said. “This could be in Boston or New York City, but it’s here.”

When the café first opened, Ellen said that there were no other bakeries or cafes in the downtown Lockport area. Since then, several more have opened. Ellen said that she doesn’t mind the competition because local businesses attract people downtown.

“The more that come to Lockport the better,” said Ellen. “It’s good for Lockport to have local businesses.”

Sweet Sixteen also sells coffee and various coffee specialty drinks. They sell Italian soda in a variety of flavors. The café can be used for birthday parties, showers and other private parties. Catering is also available.

Another feature is Thursday night cooking lessons. A six-person demo is given on Thursday’s at the café, including a menu such as crab cakes, gourmet pizza on puff pastry, gingerbread whoopie pies and mushroom and apple crepes.

One group can book the lesson or people can call the café and book seats.

Ellen said that it is a hands on demonstration, where the created food can be tasted.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Sweet Sixteen is located at 16 W. Main St. Visit www.sweetsixteencafe.com for more information.

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