One-woman show Tania Marquez opened Sugar Sweet Dreams to pursue her dream of opening a business and giving back to her community.
“Honestly, I’ve always wanted to have a business,” Marquez said. “I never knew what, but once I started baking, it opened a door for me to also help my community.”
From teacup cupcakes to colorful cake pops, the bakery is known for Marquez’s imaginative custom cake and pastry designs to make each celebration memorable. The bakery has pickup locations in Berwyn and Villa Park.
Two percent of each purchase goes towards an annual toy drive and cake donations in coordination with Icing Smiles. The nationwide nonprofit organization supports families affected by a child’s critical illness. The bakery also donates toys to low-income families each December.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Marquez is a Dreamer who moved to Cicero, Ill., with her mom and sisters when she was 9 years old. They had no idea what the future would hold.
Marquez brought the Mexican flavors and sweet smells she grew up with, like cinnamon, burnt sugar, and coffee, to her baking. She now recreates the desserts that feel like home to her, such as flan and her favorite, Cafe de la Olla, in desserts like coffee flan and churro cheesecake.
She said her business has allowed her to feel financially secure and recognized in her community, making her family proud.
She started her business three years ago in Berwyn. Later, when she moved to Villa Park, she said she saw a significant Hispanic presence in the community but not enough Hispanic businesses. Wanting to provide for her community, she created another pickup location there.
“I feel like I have to move some of my culture to that area so they can feel at home,” Marquez said.
Marquez said she believes that a business should always have a greater purpose. For her, that is the happiness of her customers.
“I’m trying to be a part of a memorable moment for” my customers, Marquez said. “So it’s not just about baking. It’s more about the reaction and the purpose and the ultimate goal for my business, which is still helping my community make an impact.”
Jay Joseph is a third-year journalism and environmental sciences student at Northwestern University. He currently works for Indigenous STEAM and is studying solutions, computational, and investigative journalism.
Publisher’s Notes: This story, among others, was produced by undergraduate students in the bilingual reporting class at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media & Integrated Marketing Communications.
Led by Prof. Mei-Ling Hopgood, the class aims to help journalism students practice sensitive and ethical engagement and reporting with multicultural communities in Spanish and English. Students visited the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at Navy Pier last fall and interviewed local business owners.