Meet Katy Metoyer of Sugar Dayne in Hermosa Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katy Metoyer.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Katy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am actually originally from Hermosa Beach. Born and raised on Power Street. My parents moved to the beach in 1974. I went off to UNLV for college with a degree in Hotel Management, graduating then moving back to the beach where I started my career as a Hotel Sales and Event Services manager with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.

I met my husband, Jason in 1999. He is the owner of a high-end residential construction named DMiles Group building homes from Los Angeles to the Westside to Hermosa Beach where we are raising our two sons Miles and Dayne (where the name ‘Sugar Dayne’ comes from).

The story of how I got into baking is a good one. My son, Miles was off to Kindergarten and I found out I had a lot of free time on my hands. I’m an avid paddleboarder and roller-skater but I can only do that so much. Aside from the volunteering at American Martyrs School, I have been supporting my son Dayne’s journey as an LHP. He’s currently pitching for Loyola High School and all my extra time goes to his baseball journey.

One summer evening, were at a friend’s house up in Brentwood and I saw a plate of decorated sugar cookies. I have NEVER BEFORE baked or decorated a cookie or anything for that matter.

That night, I went home and started watching You Tube videos of cookie decorating and I realized that there is a WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD OF DECORATED COOKIES.

As with anything, I was horrible at first but it was becoming a daily hobby for me and I was taking orders from friends and family. So as a year or so went by, I became engulfed in the cookie world and turned my home kitchen into a certified home bakery and turned my hobby into a full-time business.

I attended my first ‘Cookie Con’ in Salt Lake City in March of 2014. I was absolutely stunned by all the talented cookie artists who were decorating just like me and I went home inspired to be even better.

In October 2014, my Dad suddenly passed away.

It was like my entire world stopped and I’d never felt a pain and grief as this but I had to keep going for my boys and family. When we buried my Dad at sea, not a minute later a big whale came out of the water and waved its fluke at all of us.

It was the most inspiring thing I’d ever witnessed. A definite sign that he had given me his blessing to follow my dreams.

With my sudden loss, I really took this cookie thing to another level, channeling my grief through creating cookies. Mainly ocean and whale inspired cookies. It was basically the only thing that gave me comfort. My style was starting to evolve and I truly believe my Dad had a part in that.

He was always my biggest fan. The cookie world was starting to notice.

In September 2015, I attended my second ‘Cookie Con’ in Salt Lake City and decided to enter in the Sugar Show. I ended up winning the ‘Designer’s Choice Award’ out of hundreds of entries. I was gaining momentum in the cookie world and on social media.

As time was healing me, I decided to get out and do things again, live life, be happy… make cookies.

Hermosa Beach is a town I have been attached to since I was a little girl. Born, raised and now live here, I’d dream of having a storefront of my own here. I only had one place in mind.

Every time I would ride past the old Chef Wang’s (a Hermosa Beach institution), I threw some positive energy at it and said ‘one day that place will be mine’. I did this for at least a couple years and one day I found out they were closing after 30 years.

This was my big chance. But how? Could I do it? I also believe that my Dad was nudging me forward from above – saying this is your time… what do you have to lose? Through a series of random happenstance, the spot was officially mine.

With everything moving so quickly in Hermosa Beach, new homes, new businesses, fast-paced lives all around us… I wanted to create a space where the kids could come down for a treat after school or on Saturday mornings like I used to go when I was a kid, growing up in Hermosa.

It’s a space where I am trying to keep the Hermosa of old all the while welcoming all the changes coming to our town. I feature local artists and kept that old Chef Wang’s sign for nostalgia’s sake.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
From growing my home certified bakery to a cookie shop on the premier street in Hermosa has been quite the whirlwind. We have completely renovated the space to a welcoming studio where you can walk in and watch what’s going on in the shop… from cutting and baking cookies to creating designs and decorating. It’s basically like the coolest kitchen that I never want to leave.

I start every week preparing for the weekend yet I never quite have enough cookies for everyone. Decorated cookies are a labor of love. Taking at a minimum of 4 hours per dozen to create. When they are gone, they’re gone… but never fear I’ll have more next week.

Also, the challenge of being an at home mom to running a company has been a challenge for me. I am easing into this transition and I have a wonderful support group to help me try to make enough hours in the day.

Please tell us about Sugar Dayne.
Sugar Dayne is unique in many ways. It’s a way for me to express myself through cookies and make people happy through my translation of what they dream up for their events and parties.

As I tell everyone who comes in to visit, this is more of a cookie ‘studio’ than a full-fledged bakery. For now, we are closed Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays but we are in there taking custom orders, walk-ins are always welcome, filling the case for light retail open Thursday afternoons, Fridays and Saturdays or until sold out… which has happened every week so far.

I have my original sugar cookie, it has a hint of almond and a gluten-free version too. Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin because who doesn’t love a good cookie?

We are also working with Paradis Ice Cream on Hermosa Avenue… serving ice cream sandwiches with fresh cookies. Never frozen and made to order.

I will take custom orders that can be picked up any day. But I book up quickly so I’d ask for a 2 or 3-week notice… You can easily make an inquiry on my website. OR you can just take a gamble and see what I have on the weekends.

I will also be teaching cookie decorating classes for both adults and children, starting this fall. Birthday parties, team building events, or just renting out the space for the evening for a friendly get together – this space is for the community to build memories. Like we did in the Hermosa Beach of old.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory growing up in Hermosa Beach was my neighborhood on Power Street. There were so many kids on the block and we used to do everything together. Walk to the beach and stay until the sun went down. Take our dollar and go to the Green Store and get cheap candy and soda. We’d play all day long on our sleepy little street and we’ve created friendships and bonds that have lasted over 40 years.

This is what I want for Hermosa Beach, I want Sugar Dayne to be a place for my community and the next generation of kids to create fond memories of living in the special place I call home.

Contact Info:

• Address: 308 Pier Avenue
• Website: www.sugardayne.com
• Phone: 310-462-7566
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @sugardayne
• Facebook: Sugar Dayne
• Twitter: @sugardayne

Image Credit:
Sugar Dayne

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