Small Business Spotlight: High Five Cakes Is Now Shanks Bakery And Boba
Chillicothe’s popular High Five Cakes is undergoing a rebranding but owner Shauna Shanks says that everything people know and love about the bakery will stay the same. Now called Shanks Bakery and Boba, they will continue to offer the same delectable goodies and boba teas that have made the small business so popular.
For regulars of the Paint Street business, that’s good news. The bakery is renowned for its French Macarons which are made in a rainbow of flavors and colors. Other treats like hand pies, cupcakes, brownies and beautifully decorated cakes can help tame your sweet tooth as well.
How did this mom of three end up with a popular downtown bakery? She started out baking for her three little kids before selling hand pies at the Farmer’s Market. When she teamed up with a local baker to open High Five back in 2019, the business quickly became a downtown landmark. Shauna is now the sole proprietor and is always looking for ways to grow and to offer exciting new treats that appeal to a broad audience.
While they have a daily assortment of celebration cakes available for grab and go, they also sell custom cakes in any flavor a customer might want including wedding cakes. “We have a great decorator that we all love and she can do anything with any flavors you want,” Shauna said.
But for many, the show stoppers are the macarons. These delicate meringue-based cookies come in a variety of flavors and are filled with Swiss or Italian meringue, caramel or fruit flavors. Because they are uniform in shape, but come in a host of brilliant colors, they are the most eye-catching items in a glass case filled with impressive treats.
They also sell boba tea, lemonade refreshers, cheesecake, lemon squares, cookies, cake by the slice, cannoli, oatmeal cream pies and parfait cups. Not to mention all the seasonal baked goods like fruit tarts and strawberry shortcake. Their Facebook feed recently has been packed with things like cheesecake stuffed waffle cones, lemonade lotus energy drinks, and tiramisu parfait cups.
While the price of supplies has made doing business more expensive, Shauna says they have a good reason to stay in business. “I like to joke that it’s too late for us to be rehabilitated back into society so we have to figure out how to stick together, and keep doing what we do. No matter the price of eggs and the economy, we have to stay in business,” she laughed. “Not to mention, we sell delicious, sugary treats that legit can make everyone’s day better!”
She credits the people around her for making her and the business look good. “I have hired and surrounded myself with people who are legitimately smarter and better than I am. So, I may look like a jack-of-all trades but that image really isn’t fair. It’s legit because we work like a well-oiled machine and the final product makes me look better than I am.”
Having good people is incredibly important especially when you have businesses in two different towns. That’s right. While the Chillicothe location is a bakery that sells boba, did you know that they have a second location in Circleville that is a boba shop that sells some baked goods?
Find Shanks Bakery and Boba at 81 N. Paint St., Chillicothe and at 215 West Main St., Circleville. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram if you wish to be tempted by the beautiful assorted treats they dangle in front of followers and even order online at their website. Have a custom cake order for your next party, wedding or other special occasion? Call 740.775.CAKE or email info@shanksbakeryandboba.com.
Join Shauna and the gang for their grand reopening celebration on Saturday, March 21. “When someone comes in they should feel like a million bucks. They should feel like we have treated them to a bit of magic. That’s what we are doing! We offer sugar with a side of magic!”