Cupcakes

At top, the three witches of Oz are represented by cupcakes made by Just for Kicks Cupcakes & More. From left are the Wicked Witch of the West, the Wicked Witch of the East and Glinda the Good Witch. The Oz-themed cupcakery has plenty more flavors as well. Opposite page from left, a chocolate-covered strawberry cake; Janette Johnson takes a batch of cupcakes out of the oven; a rainbow cupcake; and some of the Ozthemed decor.

The sweet side of Oz

By Tracy Agnew Editor

Residents and visitors alike know how to find delicious sweets in Surry County: just follow the yellow brick road.

That road, in this case, leads not to Oz but rather to Just for Kicks Cupcakes & More at 11911 Rolfe Highway. The Oz-themed cupcake shop has everything you need to satisfy your sweet tooth and enough “The Wizard of Oz” decor to let any fan geek out while they place their order.

Janette Johnson, the owner, started the shop in 2018. She retired as a sergeant from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office after spending much of her career there, with the first five years in the Surry County Sheriff’s Office.

Inspired by her mother, who used to bake and do wedding cakes, Johnson started the business as something to do when she retired. It was something happier, she said.

“In law enforcement, when you go to people’s houses, nobody’s happy to see you,” she said. “And when people come here with smiles on their faces, that makes my day.”

She was able to gain the use of the building, which is owned by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church next door and has been, at various times in the past, a hairdresser, a coffee shop and an antiques

store. All of the cupcake flavors at the shop follow the “Wizard of Oz” theme. The Dorothy is a carrot cake cupcake; Scarecrow is chocolate and peanut butter-flavored. The Tin Man is an apple cinnamon flavor with cran-raisins and a pecan caramel glaze. The Cowardly Lion has coconut forming his mane on the top of the cupcake. Glinda the Good Witch is a strawberry cupcake. Then there are the Wicked Witch of the East and Wicked Witch of the ‘When people come here West, which both contain an amount of chocolate best described as delectable. The rainbow and Toto have their own flavors, with smiles on their faces, as well. that makes my day.’ There are also other sweet treats like cookies, pies and hot chocolate bombs. There are lunch selections like Jeb’s barbecue, fresh ham biscuits and homemade chicken salad. Johnson also makes cakes to order for special events, including weddings, and takes other special orders. In addition to sweet treats, Johnson gives space in her store for local artisans to display their goods. Some of them include Claremont Candle Company, artist Tina Epps, Kathy’s Kreations and Sterling Designs by Kathy Peebles, artist Emily Morgan, C & A’s Apiary of Sunbury, North Carolina, and more. “When I started this, I wanted to make sure

the local people had a chance to do things,” Johnson said. “It’s basically just community-oriented.”

Johnson said she keeps her sweets priced reasonably to keep local folks coming back — especially since they continued to support the business through the pandemic — but also has repeat business from vacationers who are in the area every year.

“Surry is doing a really, really good job getting tourism stuff going on,” she said.

Johnson dreams of having either a second store or a food truck in the future.

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