House of Chimney Cakes nears opening after months of uncertainty

ALBUQUERQUE — People won’t want to sweep out this chimney when they find out what’s inside.

House of Chimney Cakes, a California dessert chain, will open its doors to Rio Rancho and Albuquerque March 1. The shop, located next to Chicken Salad Chick, will be New Mexico’s first location and while technically in Albuquerque is just a hop over the border from Rio Rancho.

Store owner Jahia Fountain said finding the location was half the battle.

“It’s beautifully built out. It’s perfectly aligned. It’s still Rio Rancho enough where Rio Rancho residents can feel like it’s for them because it’s really close for them. But then, it’s also still Albuquerque, where people from the West Side also can come and join. So it’s a beautiful balance of having both of those cities come together. We really liked that,” Fountain said just weeks before the opening.

Part of the reason it has taken so long for the shop to open is the permitting process with the city of Albuquerque.

“They were really backed up. The electrical inspections were also really backed up because they were a skeleton crew, and there was only so many of them that could go around and do the inspections for the city,” she said.

Fountain has been ready for this opening for a while, but the idea to bring the franchise out to New Mexico began in California.

“I tried this in California, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is such a different experience than your typical ice cream shop where you just can scoop it and pour it into a cup or a regular cone’,” she said.

The unique aspect begins with the chimney cake itself.

“The Hungarian pastry, it’s something that I’ve never tasted before. It’s indulgent,” she said.

She was talking about the sweet or sometimes savory bread that holds a swirl of ice cream and is adorned with decadent or often fun toppings.

“It’s the perfect blend of just being a nice morning or even sweet treat at night. You don’t have to have it with ice cream. You can also eat it in its original form and have a big chimney cake that’s called an ‘OG chimney cake,’” Fountain said.

The shop will sell the original cake in its savory or sweet forms.

“I thought it was such a beautiful concept. I’m like, ‘Wow, this is what they do in Europe.’ It’s not overly sweet. I can eat this with a nice cup of coffee or a nice tea and still feel good about my day,” she said.

While it is encouraged that people customize their chimney cake dessert, there are creations that are suggested for first-times. Fountain prefers the strawberry cheesecake “pre-set,” but there are flavors to suit everyone’s cravings. Additionally, they offer a Dole Whip for those who don’t eat dairy.

For the kids, there are Mickey and Minnie creations. Fountain also added a selfie wall.

“I encourage the community to come in, take photos and build this up so that we can all enjoy something together. There’s things that I want to do for the community. I want to have toddler time, and the kids can come in. We have a selfie wall right here, and the kids can come in they can take pictures, read a story,” she said. “Game nights for families to come and do something and enjoy ice cream while they enjoy a game night. I want to bring something different to the community that feels like family.”

Fountain’s opening has had its challenges, though.

“I think, as a business, there’s always going to be a challenge every day. Like today, my freezer for my ice cream is completely locked out, so I have to learn. I didn’t know about soft-serve ice cream machines,” she said.

She said it was similar to moving into a first apartment and realizing there are still things she needs.

One aspect customers will notice when they walk into House of Chimney Cakes is its New Mexico theme.

“We are catering to women because the treats are so decadent. They’re so beautiful, and women do like to take pictures and post, and we encourage that. That’s what we want,” Fountain said.

The chain dessert shops across the nation are all pink inside, but the one in New Mexico will be a little different. Fountain has added turquoise to the mix, and the selfie wall is decorated with hot-air balloons, a classic car, Route 66 and more cultural references to the area.

Fountain wants the dessert shop to be a place people can work, play, converse and more. She also wants to work with members of the community.

“I would love to work with the schools if they want to do fundraisers, if they want to do like a build-your-own chimney cake. I have different ideas where they can come, and even for little kids in elementary school, they could come build their own chimney cake, giving the school an outlet for any type of fundraiser, any type of field trip,” she said.

She also hopes to help high school students get started with a job. She said a lot of her current hires are teenagers and the first job for many.

As the opening nears, Fountain wants people to know this won’t be the typical ice cream shop.

“I think our Hungarian sweet bread is going to set us apart. This is an experience that nobody has ever had before with ice cream; it’s completely different,” she said. “We hand-craft it for you. We ask you what you want, and then we go and make that special for you. It’s like a Subway of ice cream.”