New business brings chimney cakes, ‘Instagrammable’ pink café to Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, MI – A new business is bringing a Hungarian pastry and the color pink to downtown Ann Arbor.

Amanda Debek and her husband are planning to open House of Chimney Cakes Café on Aug. 31 at 216 S. 4th Ave. in downtown Ann Arbor. This is their franchise’s first café location.

House of Chimney Cakes began in California in 2017 and has three locations in California, Michigan and Texas. It was opened by Omar Lara and Szandra Szabó before they began to franchise the business in 2018.

The brand has become known for serving soft serve ice cream in its iconic Hungarian chimney cakes, made from sweet dough wrapped around a wooden dowel and baked in an oven.

“I describe (chimney cakes) as like a churro, donut and a croissant all in one,” Lara said, adding each chimney cake is baked to order.

The crispy cylinder-shaped dough tower can be served plain or loaded with a variety of fillings and toppings.

There are 15 chimney cake ice cream creations to choose from in flavors like Oreo Overload, Cookiebutter Dream, Everyday Birthday Cake and S’mores.

“(The business is) overall such a great new thing in Ann Arbor, and I feel like there’s nothing like that out there. I’m so excited for everybody to come enjoy it,” Debek said.

If nothing on the menu seems right, customers can build their own chimney cake dessert by picking from six different ice cream flavors, choosing the flavor for the cone and adding fillings and various toppings like marshmallows, sprinkles, Oreo cookie crumbs, a chocolate bar and even a cupcake, among others.

Debek is also planning to offer a University of Michigan-themed chimney cake for upcoming football games.

The Ann Arbor location will have milkshakes along with some new menu items since it is the brand’s first café. Some of these will include coffee, lattes, lemonade, acai bowls and savory chimney cakes that come in five different flavors like jalapeno and cheese.

“I think (this location) is a big thing for the brand. There’s so much more to offer, which means it’s not just going to be just another ice cream shop,” Debek said.

The cafe is a dream for anyone looking for a picture-perfect, pink spot in town, Debek said, adding she always wanted to run a pink café.

Customers are met with light pink walls, pink booths lined with all kinds of pink flowers, neon pink signs, hot pink chairs and even a swing complete with bright pink wings when they walk through the door.

“I’m so excited to bring something new to Ann Arbor with this beautiful, new concept,” she said. “It’s the most Instagrammable pink café in Ann Arbor … it’s so photo-worthy.”

People can come to work, get a coffee or go on a date and enjoy a milkshake or chimney cake.

Debek said her goal is for the space to be a “fun hangout” and is considering doing game nights on the weekends as well. The energy of Ann Arbor will hopefully contribute, she said.

As opening day gets closer, Debek is hiring employees to work at the new location and is anxiously waiting until she can share House of Chimney Cakes Café with others.

“I’m so excited that I can’t sleep,” she said. “I am just so overwhelmed and excited at the same time. I cannot wait for that day.”

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