Haven, left, sporting a pink tie, smiles with his parents, Trina and Colin Claycomb.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Hayvy Bayky Bake Shop celebrated its grand opening in the MarketPlace on June 15, as 18-year-old baking prodigy Haven Claycomb offered customers a taste of his original recipe cupcakes, cookie sandwiches and brownies.

 Sample cupcakes and cookies are displayed at Hayvy Bayky Bake Shop.

The new bakery, which is also doing business as the Sweet Haven Bakery, is at 6100 Birdcage Center Lane, Number 124, across from the Walmart grocery store and adjacent to the Patelco Credit Union branch office.

The Citrus Heights grand opening was a decidedly family affair with older brother, Rane Claycomb, holding one end of a celebratory red ribbon while his father, Colin, held the other.

 The grand opening of the Hayvy Bayky Bake Shop in Birdcage Center on June 15, was a decidedly family affair. From left, older brother, Rane Claycomb, holds one end of a celebratory red ribbon while his father, Colin, holds the other end. In the center, proud mother, Trina, stands with her son, Haven, whose childhood baking skills led him to create the Hayvy Bayky Bake Shop, making his dream of opening his own store a reality.

In the center, his mother, Trina, a social media specialist for the MarketPlace at Birdcage stood alongside her son watching as he cut a red ribbon, making his dream of opening his own store a reality.

Haven, whom his closest friends call Hayvy, sporting a pink tie, said he started baking after school when he was 14 years old. His skills are largely self-taught, Haven said, and he soon realized he had a genuine talent and growing passion for the specialty baking career which he now pursues.

 Patrons line up at Hayvy Bayky Bake Shop on June 15.

“I specialize in vegan baked goods and custom cakes but I also create (non-vegan) treats and cakes by special request,” Haven said.

Haven attended school in the San Juan Unified School District before finishing at Choices Charter School where he completed an accelerated high school program and graduated a year early at age 16.

“I have loved baking and cooking ever since I was little. My passion grew from watching bakers on YouTube and baking soon became my happy place. I started using baking as a way to cheer myself up on bad days and then to bring joy to others,” Haven said. “The more I baked, the better I got and the more I enjoyed sharing my treats with family and friends.”

Older brother, Rane, who joined Haven in the ribbon-cutting ceremony, frequently works in the kitchen alongside him. Rane admits his baking skills aren’t in the same class.

“My brother’s piping skills are on the next level,” Rane said.

In recent years, the Claycomb family has sold hundreds of cupcakes and cookies from their Citrus Heights home kitchen and at pop-up events in the greater Sacramento area.

“I’m very proud of my son,” his mother, Trina said. “Haven is pursuing something he really loves to do.”

 Haven Claycomb and his mother, Trina, are ready to serve.

Haven started as an at-home baker, first taking custom orders for cupcakes and cookies through email and Instagram. His goods could be found at local farmers’ markets and at Temple Coffee in Sacramento where Haven said he started to develop a following.

“I started doing weekly specials and lots of amazing friends (and some family members too) were actively supporting me and ordering every weekend,” Haven said.

Incoming orders outgrew the capacity of the Claycomb family’s kitchen. He now fulfills orders from a commercial kitchen space.

Trina said she noticed an available vacant commercial space just around the corner from a branch of the Patelco Credit Union that was available for lease. “I thought it would be perfect for Haven as a storefront location in Citrus Heights and made an offer.”

Once a lease was signed, interior construction soon began. Word spread about the upcoming grand opening on social media. Grand opening guests lined up in front of a pink semicircle-shaped front counter to choose from a selection of freshly baked goods for sale.

Cupcake choices include carrot cake, strawberry lemonade, blueberry vanilla and s’mores, priced from $7 each or $30 for a half dozen.

Cookie sandwiches, also priced at $7, each include Funfetti cake batter, cream filled churro, strawberry lemonade and matcha vanilla.

Four choices of decidedly decadent brownies include sweet and salty, classic chocolate fudge, rocky road and either Triple Layer Oreo or mint Oreo at $6 each.

The Sweet Haven Bakery, doing business as the Hayvy Bayky Bake Shop and specializing in custom orders and wedding cakes, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Text 916-917-3203 for more information.