Nothing Bundt Cakes opening in Springfield

While many businesses remain closed or only partially open, Theo and Kristen Spilman are preparing to open a new business. The husband and wife are new franchisees for Nothing Bundt Cakes, a bakery chain that started in Las Vegas.

The Spilmans, who are originally from Springfield, most recently lived in Austria and managed a cafeteria at a seminary there.

“Last August, we started considering moving back to Springfield,” said Kristen Spilman. “We were really impressed with the business model and the values aligning with ours,” she said of the couple’s decision to become franchisees for the Springfield area.

Nothing Bundt Cakes started in 1997 and currently has more than 300 franchises nationwide, including a location in Bloomington and a store preparing to open in Champaign. The Springfield location at 2476 Wabash Ave. is part of the Sherwood Plaza shopping center. In 2017, Seritage Growth Properties invested $20 million in redeveloping the center, which was previously anchored by Staples and Kmart. At the time, 5 Star Nutrition announced plans to occupy the suite at 2476 Wabash, but never opened.

The Spilmans, who have both worked in the food service industry since they were teenagers, are currently taking part in “support team training in a functional bakery” at the company’s Dallas headquarters, learning all aspects of the business, according to Theo.

The couple is planning for a mid-July opening, and since the locations are set up for takeout, not dine-in, the state’s current restrictions won’t affect the timeline.

“It’s going to be a strangely good time to open,” said Theo. “Things are starting to calm down, it seems. People need some joy.  Cake is about togetherness and family and friends. We’re excited to be a piece of that and give people a chance to celebrate again.”

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