‘I Was Blown Into Another Universe’: Ryan Gosling’s Late-Night Rave Sends Tiny Florida Bakery into Orbit
A quiet Tallahassee bakery is experiencing a Hollywood-sized sugar rush after Ryan Gosling used his platform on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” to send viewers on a pilgrimage to a local gem he swears by. During a recent appearance, the actor deviated from typical promotional chatter to deliver an impassioned, impromptu endorsement of The Cake Shop, a family-run establishment that has been serving the Florida capital for over 25 years. Gosling specifically name-dropped the shop’s “Popped” Tarts—homemade, Pop Tart-style pastries—revealing that they are the secret fuel behind the scenes at “Saturday Night Live.” “You have to order these Pop Tarts,” Gosling told Meyers, explaining that the treats are gifted to hosts as a ritual to get them through the grueling week, joking that the cast and crew essentially “run on Pop Tarts.”
The connection was personal: the bakery is owned by Linda Richards, whose sister, Donna Richards, serves as the wardrobe supervisor for “SNL.” For the actor, the shoutout was a genuine tip of the cap to a beloved staple. But for the small business, it was a seismic event. With the bakery closed for spring break when the episode aired, staff returned to find a reality transformed. Owner Linda Richards described the moment as a total shock, telling local station WCTV that she felt like she had been “blown into another universe” by the sudden deluge of orders flooding in from across the country. Gosling made his preference clear, requesting the strawberry flavor, though the bakery’s repertoire also includes blueberry, cinnamon, and a nostalgic peanut butter and jelly variety.
The sudden fame marks a surreal chapter for a bakery built on family recipes and decades of local loyalty. Founded by Richards, a chef’s daughter who brought her family’s cherished oatmeal raisin cookies and “Monkey Pies” to the public, The Cake Shop is no stranger to a loyal following—but nothing could prepare it for the “Gosling Effect.” With pent-up demand exploding after the spring break hiatus, the mom-and-pop shop is now racing to keep up with its newfound national audience. For a business that prides itself on treats “just like Grandma used to make,” the endorsement from one of Hollywood’s biggest stars has turned a humble pastry into a must-try sensation, proving that in the age of late-night television, a genuine compliment can still launch a small business
