Charity Fent with Charity Fent Cake Design

When Charity Fent’s son requested an army tank truck cake for his 14th birthday, she was determined to make it happen—and she decided to try baking it herself. That experience sparked a newfound passion for baking, and soon after, she launched a home bakery, where she operated her business for the first 10 years. “It was just too much with the volume I was doing, so I decided I needed to find a space to open a storefront,” Fent says. “My heart was always set on looking in Brentwood.”

Today, Charity Fent Cake Design (2648 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO, 417-838-1182) is best known for its custom cakes, but its popularity has also grown thanks to cake cups and more than 10 flavors of ooey gooey bars. Fent loves working in Springfield, appreciating its small-town charm. “I am able to make those personal relationships with my customers and get to know them and their families,” she says.