Local cheesecake shop trying to raise funds to stay open

You dream it! Cheesecake Dreamations will create it! But this locally family-owned specialty cheesecake shop, in Marina, may soon be closing its doors. Now they’re hoping a GoFundMe will help keep their business dream going. 

“We tried we fought, we fought hard,” said employee and brother of owner/ baker, Robert Mosqeda 

Like many small local businesses trying to stay afloat during the pandemic, 2020 was rough. Last week, Cheesecake Dreamations received a letter from the landlord stating they face a possible eviction if past due rent isn’t met by August 25th. 

“Last year was really, really rough we probably had like a 60% loss of revenue last year. I had to cut down hours. We still aren’t even open fully here at the shop. I had to cut back on employees, and everything,” Cheesecake Dreamations owner/ baker, Melissa Yeater. 

The revenue loss wasn’t just from the lack of customers, but also from canceled events.

“We did quite a number of weddings before the pandemic and it was kind of a regular thing, and it was something that me and my sister really enjoyed,” Mosqeda. 

Though the storefront doors have been opened since 2014, Yeater actually started her business in 2006. She wanted to share her love of baking with the Marina, and surrounding Central Coast communities. Yeater says she decided to turn to GoFundMe after customers started asking how they could help. 

"I really didn’t want to ask for money. It was just mainly something to get the word out there,” Yeater. 

Yeater mentioned the landlord has been working with Cheesecake Dreamations this past year. “He loves us and he knows that we are trying. But, you know, it's business and we understand that.”  

She also applied for federal help and funding from the local grants but was denied three of them. A grant from the City of Marina helped with some utilities, staffing, and rent, yet more is needed.  

As far as the next, “I’m just going to cross that bridge when I come to it. If this is a chapter that needs to be closed, and I need to go somewhere else, then so be it.”  

For now, social media has played a role in keeping the business afloat. 

“I was scrolling through Facebook and saw the post about and read the story and it kind of hit home a little bit. I have a friend who lost two businesses during the pandemic and its just you know its just kind of heartbreaking to see that family owned businesses are having to pack up and leave because they can’t keep up with stuff,” said Adrian Alvarado, who drove from Salinas with his kids and his two kids to support Cheesecake Dreamations. 

And be on the lookout at this year’s Monterey County Fair. Yeater was just invited to sell her sweet treats at the event, which takes place Labor Day Weekend, September 3rd- 6th. 

The GoFundMe has already raised over $8,000. The goal is to reach $15,000. 

“I just want to thank everybody, our communities, our families, our friends who have really pulled together just to show support. That’s our customers, and that’s considered our family.” 

You can donate to help or simply stop by Cheesecake Dreamations to sink your teeth into one of their specialty cheesecakes.