After 12 years, Fort Greene’s Raven Dennis – known as Cake Man Raven – has closed up his bakeshop on Fulton Street after his landlord raised his rent to more than $5,000, according to the New York Daily News.
“It’s like a marriage gone bad – it’s too bitter to stay now,” said Dennis, who was paying $3,000 per month previously, according to the paper.
The building’s landlord had taken Dennis to court in a rent dispute last year, and according to the lawyer for the building owner, “It’s time for [Dennis] to go.”
“Cake Man Raven” has been at his Fort Greene bakery for the past 12 years, where he created treats for the likes of Mary J. Blige, Maya Angelou and Michael Strahan, according to the Daily News. He is famous for his red velvet cake.
Plans for Dennis now include opening two small shops in downtown Brooklyn and Harlem – where he baked for 11 years before moving to Fort Greene. According to the paper, Dennis is also opening an event space for rent at his Atlantic Ave. baking facility, called Cakeville USA.
The Daily News says that on Thanksgiving Day, customers started lining up at 2:30 a.m. to buy their last holiday cakes from Dennis.
