Bakery that sells adult-themed food items avoids shutdown

Sweet & Sexy Exotic Bakery, located at 13117 Lakewood Blvd., can remain open as it works with the city to comply with local ordinances. Photo by Alex Dominguez

DOWNEY — A Downey bakery known for its graphic baked goods avoided being shut down — for now — after the Planning Commission voted 4-1 last week to have city staff work to bring it under compliance with the city code.

Sexy and Sweet Exotic Bakery, located at 13117 Lakewood Blvd., has drawn criticism for its baked goods which have been shaped and decorated to resemble human genitalia, which at one time had been displayed in its storefront window.

Sweet and Sexy applied for a business license as a bakery in September 2023. However, city staff concluded that the business was operating as an adult business.

Downey’s Municipal Code determines an “adult specialty business” as being any business with 20% of its products sold or on display depicting or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.

The code also restricts adult businesses from being located within 500 feet of a residential zone, of which the bakery is neighbored to its southwest and north.

Code Enforcement issued the business a notice of violation to “immediately cease all ‘adult business activities’” in March.

Facing a potential shut down, owner Gleydis Rodriguez argued Wednesday that only three of her 55 items were graphic.

“When I received the notice to comply, I immediately took the candy down from the window,” said Rodriguez, through a translator. “I understand there could be a child that walks by. It’s normal, it’s something that we all have, but whatever.”

Vice Chair Mario Guerra said that the products in question were “in poor taste” but suggested that the business no longer met the qualifications of an “adult business.”

“I went there last week to see it, and obviously they’ve had their reform, if you will,” said Guerra. “It’s tacky, but the menu wasn’t 20% of those types of things. They had other things, there’s nothing showing, there’s no signage outside.

“I’m just concerned to label it an adult business and just shut it down completely…Where they’re at today, could we justify it at being an adult business?”

Community Development Director Irma Huitron acknowledged that recent inspections had shown that “the business model has changed,” and that the bakery “would not fall under the category of an adult business” currently.

Commissioner Hector Lujan expressed concern over the bakery selling the graphic goods again.

“My concern is it’s a residential area, lot of different stores in that corner area, and kids go there,” said Lujan. “They’re walking by, so obviously if they’re going to see those things, they’re going to ask. To me, that’s the bigger concern, whether it’s 20%, 10%, 5%. Are they going to go back and be selling those items, and display them?”