Cake Man Raven Re-opening in Bed-Stuy?

So, Bad-Stuy Patch heard from a reliable source, District Leader Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., that that the prospects are very good Cake Man Raven, the wildly popular bakery known for its red velvet cakes, may be re-opening at a location in Bed-Stuy.  

As you might recall, Cake Man Raven’s owner Raven Dennis had to closed his Fort Greene location in November 2012, after 12 years, after his landlord raised his monthly rent from $3,000 to more than $5,000.  

Well, Wednesday night, Cornegy, along with Community Board 3 President Henry Butler and Director of Economic Development for Bridge Street Development Corporation Kenneth Mbonu met with Dennis to court him on a new location for his bakeshop on Malcolm X Boulevard near MacDonough Street.

Dennis was surveying the location and now is in talks with Damascus Lee, who owns the location.  

“We went after him,” said Cornegy. “All of us came together to try to do what we’ve been saying we’re going to do, which is court small business owners into Bed-Stuy.  

“Residents have complained that we don’t need another liquor store, another hair salon, another bodega. So we think having the business owner, community development leaders and elected officials come together to invite new business in, this is a model we can really use to promote retail diversity.”  

Dennis was surveying the size and configuration of the space last night, and Cornegy said he seemed very enthusiastic.  

“We wanted to show [Raven Dennis] that he has residual customers here who love you and who are loyal to you,” said Cornegy. “And on top of that, we’re all potential customers and stakeholders because we all live in Bed-Stuy.”