We caught PRP founder Hollie Deville just in time for their first anniversary, and got the chance to get a deep dirty look into the blood, sweat and icing flowing into this anything but ordinary bakery!
Flip through Punk Rock Pastries’ Instagram gallery and you’re sure to be surprised. A dino handbag, a rock burst open revealing shimmering beauty inside, countless body parts from both above and below the belt, a rude valentine, a whole human cadaver?! All these off-the-wall cakes are the inspired work of an offbeat boutique bakery nestled in among the shops in Burnaby’s Capitol Hill which loudly proclaims “Punk’s not dead, it’s just baking”!
Where are you from originally? How did Vancouver become your home? And what do you love about Vancouver?
Born in Canberra (A.C.T) Grew up between Bawley Point NSW and Canberra. I started my career off when I was 16 and worked my way through the industry. I eventually moved to Adelaide and became the sous chef of White Sands restaurant at the age of 21, and decided on a sea change. Vancouver was my first stop in my travels through Canada but I fell in love with the city and met my husband here so decided to stay.
What I love about Vancouver is that in a half-hour drive you can be either in the city or in the mountains or even on the beach, that there is wildlife right at my doorstep. The best thing I love about Vancouver is that I can truly be myself here tattoos and all and I’m not judged.
The concept and style of Punk Rock Pastries is so original and distinctive. Tell us your story! How was Punk Rock Pastries born?
Punk Rock Pastries started off as just a dream. I was determined to make it happen to have my own space where I could just be myself to create things I wanted to create, to invent and to have a job I loved going to everyday. At the time I was pretty much running other peoples’ companies, and one day I got fed and gave my notice and started to make Punk Rock Pastries a reality. I started making cakes out of a commercial kitchen and the opportunity came up for a store front a month later I jumped at the chance.
But honestly it was too good to be true. The amount of work and money that I needed to open PRP was hell. We had savings to open PRP but we ran out of money between re-wiring the shop, then add on ten thousand worth of plumbing plus extras; we were down to our last dollars. So with the help of friends we put on a fundraiser and raised the extra money we needed to open. Then we got hit again. The main electrical cable coming into the building needed to be upgraded, and we didn’t have that money at all. I’m so lucky and thankful for Elise, she came to my rescue and became part owner of the bakery. After 9 months of hell and way too much money later, we opened our doors on July 6th and we haven’t looked back.
Congratulations to you and your team on your win last October on The Big Bake! Your Pumpkins of the Crypt creation was SPOOK-tacular!
lol It was such an entertaining episode, seeing all the range of emotions a competition like that can bring. What’s something that might surprise people about being on a reality show competition like that? Being on the food network was a complete dream, and then winning was mind blowing. We just went there to have fun, and walked out with the prize money. What you see on TV isn’t everything that happens; we actually had lost our whole cake and only had an hour to rebuild. It was the most stressful experience ever, but the funny thing is that I’d totally do it again. Not only was it stressful, it was also great. I got to meet a lot of amazing people and make a tonne of new friends.
Your creations are seriously and literally something out of this world. It’s hard to pick a favourite! What would you say are your top 3 most memorable creations and why?
Wow even picking a top three for me is hard. I love being able to blow peoples minds with my cakes. Every time I make a cake I push myself to try new tricks or techniques. My top 3 would have to be:
#3 Bob – The life-size cadaver we made last Halloween for our shop front.
#2 Harry Plopper – Because creating something that’s 2D into 3D is almost impossible and he turned out great.
#1 Peewee Herman and Large Marge – This cake was definitely a favorite of mine recently, I just had so much fun bringing the characters to life.
Where would you like to see yourself five years from now?
In five years I want to be right here where I am, making amazing cakes at PRP, but of course if I get the chance my own food network show (just kidding), or just to be on there a few more times would be fun.
Who and what are some inspirations in your industry? there are some amazing artists out there and i’ve been lucky enough to talk to a few of my idols. Debbie does cakes is an amazing cake sculptor she literally is amazing. Kate from NY Cakes is also a cake artist I look up to, she was also on The Big Bake and won. Anthony Bourdain (R.I.P.) was one of the main reasons I wanted to be a chef, reading his books taught me to push my boundaries with flavors.
What advice do you have for someone wanting to start their own business? What is something you wish someone had told you?
I really wish someone had told me was that its not only hard work but its stressful, that everyday anything can happen but no matter what happens to keep fighting. If you have a dream that you wnat to make a reality fight for it! put your heart and soul into it and just don’t give up on your dream. Also never let anyone tell you how your dream should be, Be yourself do it your way because at the end of the day the business is about yours.
Now, time for a more serious topic… COVID has affected us all in different ways. Can you share with us how this time has affected you and your business? And do you have a message to share with the community?
When you write a business plan you don’t write in there how to survive a zombie apocalypse. No one saw COVID coming, and for a small business like us, it hit us hard. We lost every cake booking we had, we didn’t and don’t qualify for any of the government loans or anything because we are a new start-up business and because being a new business I didn’t pay myself for the first 6 months.
I thought we where done, that when we closed our doors at the start of April that we wouldn’t ever re-open. I spent a week crying, stressing and freaking out. I had to let all my staff go, and that for me was the hardest thing, because my staff are not only my friends, they are family to me, so I worried about them as well.
One day Elise and I talked about trying to make an online store work, we set it up and the first day we launched it was a success, we got a few of our friends to deliver. It worked, but it meant that I was at the bakery baking some times at 1:30 in the morning just to get the orders ready. I had a fair few days where I was just a mess, where I was so exhausted that I was having a hard time adjusting to what could be the new normal for us. The community has been an amazing support, I’ve never felt so much love from my customers. They rallied together to keep PRP alive.
Even now we have re-opened our doors the stress of COVID is still here, every month I wonder if we are going to survive. I’m so thankful to all the amazing people I’ve met through PRP that have helped us get through this, without them I’d be lost.
What’s coming up for you?
With the re-opening of our store from after COVID (even though it’s still very much here), we are launching a range of cakes that will be ready for people with only two days notice (we call them re-make cakes); from crazy skull designs to whimsy geode cakes, we will have some amazing fun designs available. We also have a few other things up our sleeves, but I’m unfortunately not allowed to spill the beans just yet, so you’ll have to just keep your eyes out and see what crazyness we come up with next.
Your shop is coming up on its first birthday! What are you doing to celebrate?
On Saturday, July 4th, we’re having cake, a busker, and a balloon guy, and just having an awesome fun day. I’m so excited!
Hollie shares Five fun Facts about Punk Rock Pastries
- Elise and Alicia had NEVER made a sculpted cake before we went on The big bake!
- Hollie won her first cake decorating competition at age 18. She got 2nd place.
- We describe the decor at PRP as “Hollie’s 13 year old bedroom.”
- Hollie Alicia and Elise all used to work together before PRP.
- Joey from D.O.A cut the ribbon to PRP in 2019.
Lightning Round
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
Guatemala, love the culture and food there.
If I gave you $20 to spend on anything right now, what would it be?
Candy, I’m a sugar addict
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people.
I went back to school to study biology before PRP, thats where my fascination with body parts and bones came about.
What advice would you give to your 15 year old self? Don’t let your past Define who you are going to be!
One guilty pleasure you aren’t willing to give up? Backstreet boys sing alongs with Alicia
For more info:
Website: www.punkrockpastries.com
Instagram: @punkrockpastries
Twitter: @Punkrockpastrys
Facebook: www.facebook.com/punkrockpastries