The long-standing Center City Philadelphia branch of Carlo’s Bake Shop, known for its eye-catching cakes and its association with reality TV star Buddy Valastro, has ceased operations after nearly a decade. The vacant storefront at the intersection of 21st and Walnut Streets is now available for lease through MPN Realty, with the former tenant potentially parting with the bakery equipment. The monthly rent is estimated to be around $12,600. The remaining Carlo’s Bake Shop location in Marlton remains open to fulfill the sweet cravings of customers.

Valastro, a self-proclaimed cake master with a larger-than-life personality and a family that embraces his passion for over-the-top creations, rose to prominence in 2009 with the reality show Cake Boss. The series, which ceased producing new episodes in 2020, sparked several spin-offs, including Next Great Baker, Kitchen Boss, Bake You Rich, and Bakery Boss.

Inheriting the family bakery from his father in 1994 at the age of 17, Valastro, now 46, has expanded his culinary empire through four cookbooks and ventured into savory cuisine with the 2013 establishment of Buddy V’s Ristorante at the Venetian in Las Vegas. His expansion continued with the opening of PizzaCake at Harrah’s Las Vegas in 2020, followed by the Boss Cafe by Buddy Valastro and Buddy’s Jersey Eats at the LINQ Hotel + Experience in Las Vegas.