Tameka Badiane has been baking up sweet treats since she was a little girl in her grandmother’s kitchen. But she finally saw a lifelong dream become reality with the opening of her new shop, the Cupcake Palace.

A step into the bubble-licious, candy-hued space is enough to send a diabetic into sugar shock, as a dizzying assortment of treats, pastries, and of course cupcakes take center stage. 

Badiane, a mother of three who moved to Conyers in 1998, had run a catering and party planning business from her home for seven years. She started out simply doing birthdays in a big way for family and friends, and soon, as word of her parties spread, she found herself doing weddings, birthdays and parties across metro Atlanta.

Still, taking the leap and quitting her full time job with AT&T customer service was a big decision. 

“It took a lot of prayer,” she said. 

Part of what inspired her was seeing other bakers find success on television shows such as Cake Boss or Cupcake Wars.

“We’re bakers too, but we don’t have to be on TV to do it,” she said. “We do three-dimensional cakes. I’m doing it now from my house.”

The shop opened in February in the Corner Market, at the intersection of Flat Shoals and Parker Road, and serves as a retail front for her catering business as well. 

The shop currently has 20 types of cupcakes, but some of the most popular are Banana Cream, S’mores, Cookies and Cream, German chocolate, Key lime, Strawberry, and Coconut. Badiane and her staff come up with all the recipes and recently created flavors such as Maple Cream, featuring maple turkey bacon, and a Green Tea cupcake.

The shop also features croissant sandwiches, with ham and Swiss or spinach and feta cheese, as well as other pastries. Free wifi is available, and Badiane encourages customers to stay and enjoy the warm atmosphere of the shop.

New on Saturdays, the Cupcake Palace will also have visits from “Princess Bre,” with free cotton candy and treasures from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information, call 770-648-8490 or go to www.facebook.com/cupcakepalace