Auckland's New Bakery Fankery Opens, Drawing Crowds and Long Lines
An immensely popular bakery that gained a large online presence has launched its inaugural physical store in Auckland and has already seen queues stretching outside.
On the bright morning of May 24th, a line wound its way through Newmarket as people eagerly awaited the grand opening of Fankery.
The store officially launched at 9 am, yet some customers arrived as early as 8:25 am, stating they expected a line since it was "Fankery."
Cathy Fan is the creative force behind the brand. She shared with First Up that she had been searching for a steady location to showcase her tasty products for some time.
For the last couple of years, I've been driving around Auckland for various pop-ups we’ve hosted. However, even though these events were happening frequently, Fankery didn’t really settle into a fixed location in my mind. It felt amazing to connect with individuals and form communities this way. Yet, it always seemed more transient than something solid and official.
Opening her own permanent store was not something 25-year-old Fan imagined four years ago.
When she embarked on her engineering career and started competing in bodybuilding, an unexpected illness dramatically altered the course of her life.
When I initially began baking, it was part of my journey to recover from hypothyroidism, which caused me to put on 12 kilograms in just one month. Having recently transitioned from competing as an amateur in bikinis and engaging in bodybuilding, that unexpected weight gain really derailed me.
However, Fan didn’t allow this life-altering experience to bring her down and quickly launched her own venture.
Fankery currently boasts over 20,000 followers on Instagram.
"It all began with my personal bakery venture. After following a strict diet for two full years, I turned to baking to satisfy my sweet tooth. The standout item? My mouthwatering burnt Basque-style mochi cheesecake – which has become synonymous with my brand today. This journey emerged during some of the toughest moments of my life. Engaging with food-related content online provided an escape from my bleak routine; it gave me something positive to concentrate on instead. Thus, besides working my regular nine-to-five shift, I dedicated extra hours each day to baking. Fast forward two years, and here we are, ready to unveil our inaugural storefront," shared Fan in a video ahead of the grand opening event.
There has been so much demand for Fan's baking that she has had to take some time away from engineering.
"Baking kind of brought a new perception on life and it was kind of me being able to show my creative side through food. I just started sharing pics of what I made online, and it just grew from there."
Her most iconic creation is a basque cheesecake with a layer of mochi at $22.50 a slice.
This is a variation of Spanish cheesecake that Cathy has put her own spin on by including a layer of sticky rice paste.
I have a Shanghainese heritage, where we consume many dishes made with glutinous rice. So I enjoy eatingsticky rice, mochi, and similar items. However, when it came to adding these ingredients to the cheesecake, my reason wasn’t about liking cheesecakes; instead, I aimed to create something more appealing to me personally. Thus, I thought trying this approach couldn't lead to disappointment.
When leasing a commercial kitchen years ago, securing the ideal retail space proved challenging. However, Fan adopted an innovative strategy and transformed an outdated ticket booth located in a car park behind the side streets of Broadway into a functional venue.
I’ve been hunting for a space for quite some time now. It’s been challenging because many landlords seem skeptical about me, not really placing their trust in me at all. When we found this spot, it turned out to be very tiny; it was originally the kiosk for Wilson Parking, so it’s actually located inside a parking structure.
I thought, wow, this is pretty adorable. You stroll down the street, not expecting to see it, yet you find yourself intrigued and wanting to investigate further. I really enjoy Newmarket since it feels as though although Broadway might not be thriving anymore, the shopping center is fantastic. People flock to the mall, plus there’s ample parking available.
As numerous hospitality establishments close down, Fan mentioned she attempted to remain optimistic when opening up.
Some businesses continue to perform admirably. Others are flourishing. You might choose to let gloomy thoughts overwhelm you—that’s certainly one path. Alternatively, you can view this situation optimistically; it presents an opportunity for transformation. This could also be seen as a chance for growth. Facing challenges related to expansion indicates that things are moving forward positively.
I’m really looking forward to leaving behind the pop-up lifestyle since living this way for two and a half years means there’s been no fixed routine at all. Each weekend starts with an extremely early rise, and I crave more consistency in my life now. My aim is to grow Fankery into a brand that comes to mind whenever someone thinks of Asian-inspired baking.
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