A Vending Machine With Cakes In Burr Ridge

Children's book author's love of chocolate cake turns into a business.
By David Giuliani, Patch Staff
Dec 11, 2020 12:59 pm CT  |  Updated Dec 12, 2020 4:59 pm CT

BURR RIDGE, IL — Sometimes that craving for chocolate cake comes at the wrong times, like late at night.

That's what happened to children's book author Tianna Gawlak not long ago.

"My kids were talking about chocolate cake all the time," Gawlak said in an interview. "We were driving late one night talking about stopping to get cake, and I thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool if there were something like this available 24 hours a day?'"

That inspired the Homer Glen resident to become an entrepreneur, starting a business called The Bakery Box. On Saturday, she plans to set up her first such box at the Burr Ridge Village Center.

The box is a vending machine that offers a variety of cakes around the clock. It is planned for the lobby next to Starbucks.

Even though this is a new venture for Gawlak, it's not such a stretch. After all, her latest book is titled "When You Dream of Chocolate Cake."

As for the selection in the machine, she said, it will change monthly.

"This is a refurbished old-style vending machine," she said. "I'm torn on whether to call it an ATM or a vending machine."