Family owned and run businesses are fixtures in most communities: Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers coming together to not only create an income but also to share passions.
Wabie Quayle and her husband Roger were living in London when they started making cupcakes, which has now blossomed into Starbird Bakehouse.
“I’ve baked my whole life,” said Wabie. “We started the business in London two years ago making cupcakes and it really took off so we decided carry on with it. I love eating the baking so it gives me inspiration to make more.”
Wabie and Roger moved to the Kootenays where her mother Sandrella was living when they found out they were going to have their son Kai.
“Starbird was doing really well, and my mom has a store already in New Denver called Inspirations by Sandrella so we thought we’d do it together,” said Wabie.
Her sister was working at Starbucks and together the family makes everything in the store, including Roger making crepes.
“We needed a job so we created a business for ourselves,” said Wabie about the crepe cart. “Roger has always made crepes and he’s good at it, so we thought we’d do that with our cupcakes. It was a great thing to do together.”
The crepes and cupcakes were served at markets and festivals around Nelson before they opened the store front location earlier this month, and can still be found at events all over the area.
Wabie and Roger have worked in restaurants for many years, Wabie started in the industry when she was 16.
“I narrowed down my cupcake menu in London,” she said. “But I added a few like gluten free, chai and pumpkin because those are more Canadian flavours. I kind of make what I like eating. It takes a while to come up with a good recipe. I think I went through 36 vanilla recipes before I arrived on the one I’m using, and now it’s my favourite.”
Even though Wabie enjoys a lot of her own baking, and admits she gets sick of some of the flavours, she loves the red velvet or vanilla bean.
Starbird Bakehouse is located at 464 Baker Street.