RECAST Program Brings New Event Business to Lakeshore Blvd.
Alajia Morris plans to open a full service event space, offering hosting, planning and decorating services.
“Everyone knows how to invite people to a party—but very few people know how to host a party, and how to actually entertain. I love to entertain, and I love to provide an experience. I want to turn a party into a memorable moment.”
Alajia Morris is a successful home-based baker. She’s talented, she’s creative, she’s artistic, and she’s in tuned to the needs of her clients. Her cakes and cupcakes look so good, you almost don’t want to eat them.
But that’s not where the vision ends for Morris.
The Euclid based entrepreneur recently completed the city’s RECAST Small Business Program, and was one of the 5 local makers in her cohort to complete the entire retail readiness sequence aimed to transition her homebased business to a retail space on Lakeshore Blvd. This innovative program helps bring Made in Euclid products and services to market for residents, while simultaneously alleviating the problem of long-empty storefronts looming in our downtown area. Alajia Morris plans on opening not a cake shop, but a full-fledged event center in her RECAST subsidized space.
“We are excited to have Alajia participating in the Recast program. She brings a fresh energy and enthusiasm to the cohort. Her ideas and passion for this concept are inspiring” said Callie Cripps, Economic Development Manager for the City of Euclid and leader of the program.
The transition from baker to event-guru was an organic one for Morris, who speaks fondly of the evolution of her business. “Delivering cakes turned into doing full sweets tables, decorating my sweets tables turned into decorating a whole space, decorating spaces turned into planning parties, and the planning turned into hosting,” said Morris, who’s known in her family for lavish and “extra” events she’s thrown for family milestones.
Morris, doing business as Classy 1 Entertainment, plans to offer complete event packages that include space rental, decorating, planning and hosting services. “A host is essential for a successful event,” adds Morris, who plans to take on those duties for all her clients, leaving them free to enjoy their parties. These services are especially valuable to parents of young children, who often miss important moments
To learn more about Alajia Morris and how she’s building an event empire- please visit www.classycupcakesandstuff.com
To learn more about the RECAST program and how Euclid is bringing local makers back to Main Street (or Lakeshore Blvd. in our case!) visit cityofeuclid.com
