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'The name says it all' Freaking Delicious Cheesecake cuts ribbon
Freaking Delicious cheesecake ribbon cutting 2025
Allie Cartwright prepares to cut the ribbon on Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce office. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was in celebration of the second anniversary of Cartwright’s business, Freaking Delicious Cheesecake Co. - photo by photo by Susan Thacker/Great Bend Tribune

Whether it was the warmer weather or the prospect of free cheesecake, this week’s Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Coffee drew a crowd. Allie Cartwright’s business, Freaking Delicious Cheesecake Co., hosted the coffee at the Chamber office.

Chamber Ambassador Jennifer Stoddard from Hammeke Electric introduced Cartwright as a “freaking awesome person,” noting her past careers as a radio DJ, bookstore owner, Reiki instructor, lifestyle coach and professional singer-songwriter.

Cartwright said she started selling cheesecakes around 2022 as a fundraiser to pay off a veterinary bill for her dog’s surgery. Not only was the fundraiser successful, she started hearing from people she didn’t know who had tasted her cheesecake and wanted to buy more.

“I started looking into the possibility of having it be a pop-up thing to do once a month,” she said. “And that’s when I found out it’s illegal to sell cheesecake out of your house. Now, technically, because I was fundraising, there’s a gray area; I didn’t technically break the law, just for the record.”

She thought her idea would go no further, but people she did not know continued to send messages on Facebook, “begging me for cheesecake.”

Cartwright found a commercial kitchen she could use at the Wolf Hotel in Ellinwood and officially opened Freaking Delicious Cheesecake Co. in February of 2023. Last year, she invested in a delivery vehicle and a concession trailer.

With a variety of flavors and sizes of cheesecake and other treats, Cartwright takes orders at her website, www.FreakingDeliciousCheesecake.com. Orders can be picked up in Ellinwood or she will deliver them for a fee. They can also be purchased at Ellinwood Packing Plant or by the slice at The Page restaurant in Great Bend.

“I’m really excited for the future,” Cartwright said. “I’ve got a lot of things in the works that I can’t talk about and a few new things coming your way – new products and opportunities and services.”


Chamber announcements

• Saturday, March 1 - This month’s Adopt A Pet Food Fundraiser runs Saturday, March 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bomgaars, 5320 10th St. Proceeds benefit Golden Belt Humane Society shelter animals.

• The 103rd Annual Chamber Awards Banquet starts with cocktail hour at 6 p.m., dinner and awards at 7, on Saturday, March 1 at Corinthians Hill Events Center. Tickets for this event are sold out.

• Unlock Your Chamber Benefits Lunch & Learn on Wednesday, March 5, runs from noon to 1 p.m. at the Chamber office. Bring your own lunch for a hands-on lesson on Chamber marketing and advertising opportunities.

• The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group meets Wednesday, March 5, from 2:30-3:30 at Volunteers In Action, 1025 Main Room D106.

• Grow Workforce will present the Business & Career Expo from 4-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the Great Bend Events Center. This is an opportunity to showcase your business, connect with potential hires and highlight what makes your company unique. Businesses are encouraged to reserve a booth now through Great Bend Economic Development at gbedinc.com/growworkforce.

• Garden Season is almost here. Veronica Coons with the Barton County Conservation District said there will be a Seed Swap on March 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Great Bend Public Library. They hope to make this an annual event. Even if you don’t have seeds to swap with other gardeners, you will probably be able to come away with some seeds.

- Coons also said the six-week program on Spring Gardening Basics starts March 22 at the library. It meets on Saturdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

- There are three weeks left for the Barton County Conservation District’s Nursery Tree Sale. For more information, including photos of tree and shrub species, and to place an order, visit the Barton County Conservation District page on Facebook.

• Final Fridays on Forest Ave., sponsored by Great Bend Alive!, returns for the fifth year on April 25. Lee Ann June with Great Bend Economic Development said volunteers are needed. This year Final Friday hours have been extended, running from 5-10 p.m.

• Sunflower Diversified Services' Pancake Feed will be Thursday, April 3, from 4-7 p.m. at the Prince of Peace Parish Center. Entertainment will be provided by DJ Donald Hawes. Tickets are on sale for the pancake feed and for the raffle for a 2025 Chevy Trax Activ. (The drawing will take place at the Pancake Feed.) For more information visit sunflowerdiv.com. Sunflower services infants, toddlers and adults in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.

• Great Bend Optimist Club will host a Sloppy Joe Dinner and Dessert from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 23, at Walnut Bowl, 3101 N. Washington St. Meals are $8 and there will also be a silent auction. Proceeds benefit youth projects of the club.

• The next Chamber Coffee will be at 9 a.m. March 6 the Chamber office, hosted by Avast Ye Java Coffee Company. A ribbon cutting will follow at the Chamber for Massage at Eades.