A Florida bakery has been inundated with an extraordinary volume of orders following an unexpected endorsement from Hollywood superstar Ryan Gosling during a late-night television appearance. The actor's spontaneous praise for the establishment's pop tarts has transformed the small business overnight, creating a nationwide demand that has left the owner both thrilled and scrambling to keep up.
The Unplanned Celebrity Endorsement
During his March 18 appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers to promote his new film Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling paused his interview mid-conversation after spotting a familiar face offstage. That person was Donna Richards, a wardrobe dresser for Saturday Night Live, who had previously supplied Gosling with pop tarts from her sister's bakery during his time hosting the iconic comedy show.
After confirming the details with Richards, Gosling enthusiastically promoted The Cake Shop in Tallahassee, Florida, declaring: 'They make the most incredible pop tarts. You have to order these pop tarts.' He went on to explain how these particular baked goods, shipped from Florida to New York, had sustained him throughout his demanding SNL hosting duties.
Immediate Business Impact
The celebrity endorsement produced immediate and dramatic results for the bakery. Linda Richards, owner of The Cake Shop and sister to Donna, told local news outlet WCTV that her business was suddenly hit with 'thousands of requests' following Gosling's televised recommendation.
'I did not know that was coming. It was a total shock. I was blown into another universe,' Linda confessed, describing her reaction to the unexpected publicity windfall. On one particularly busy day following the mention, she reported selling more than 100 pop tarts, with orders pouring in from across the United States.
Managing the Surge in Demand
The bakery, which has operated in Florida for over 25 years, typically offers a wide variety of baked goods including cookies, cakes, eclairs, brownies, lemon bars, and more than twenty different cupcake flavors. However, the pop tarts have now become the unexpected star attraction.
Available in flavors including blueberry, cinnamon, peanut butter and jelly, and Gosling's personal favorite strawberry, these pastries have captured national attention. Linda Richards has appealed to customers for patience as her small business works diligently to manage the unprecedented surge in orders.
'Everybody has something they want at any bakery, right?' Linda reflected. 'Whether it's a cookie or a cupcake — for me it's monkey pie. It's just everybody's thing, and that's what it is evidently for him.'
Customer Response and Business Legacy
The viral moment has attracted both local and distant customers to the establishment. Ian Osterhaus, one such customer, explained that he visited specifically to try the now-famous pop tarts after his father sent him an article about Gosling's endorsement.
'I was like, "Tallahassee pop tarts? I need some." I'm so excited,' Osterhaus expressed, capturing the enthusiasm that has swept through the bakery's customer base.
Despite the current frenzy, The Cake Shop maintains its quarter-century tradition of quality baking while navigating this extraordinary period of heightened demand. The owner continues to emphasize that while fulfilling the thousands of new requests presents logistical challenges, she remains grateful for the unexpected celebrity endorsement that has brought her family business into the national spotlight.
