SHMILY Tree Cakery takes a leap of love into the pop-up shop

The “SHMILY” in SHMILY Tree Cakery stands for See How Much I Love You — and if you talk to owner and founder Cheryl Kirby, it doesn’t take long to see how much she loves what she does. Whether you’re celebrating a major life event or simply need a quick sugar fix, Cheryl’s got you covered — and she’ll be selling her delectable desserts through the end of 2026 at the pop-up shop in Union Bank Place.

Cheryl fell in love with baking and design while she studied at the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College, one of the top 15 culinary arts programs in the United States. The name “SHMILY Tree Cakery” was inspired by Cheryl’s grandparents — her grandfather would leave the initials “SHMILY” on notes around the house for her grandmother to find. After they both passed, the family’s pastor described their love as branches of a tree, extending to touch countless lives as they grew. The couple showed love and comfort through their passion for baking — a passion that Cheryl discovered she had, too.

Cheryl’s journey has taken her to different parts of the country, bringing her passions along with her from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast. Eventually, all roads led back to Nebraska, where Cheryl took a job in healthcare while she continued to manage SHMILY part-time. “I have a love/hate relationship with healthcare,” she jokes, “but I love baking.” 

As SHMILY has evolved, Cheryl has continued investing in what she loves most. A big milestone came with the completion of the “In a Cup” trailer, a mobile dessert trailer that has allowed her to cater custom goods for private events while also making it easier to serve local communities. But recently, Cheryl took perhaps the biggest step yet: She left her healthcare position to pursue baking full-time.  While she’ll still help out at her previous job here and there, she’s going all in on her lifelong passion — and entering the pop-up shop is the perfect reflection of her commitment.

Cheryl’s vision for the pop-up shop is to offer a blend of custom and pre-made goods. She’s a lover of all things celebratory, so don’t be surprised if you see special designs around specific holidays, or certain days of the week dedicated to special, limited-time goods. Still, Cheryl also wants to ensure that she has a selection of fan-favorite treats on deck whenever she’s open, such as her cookies, cake pops, cake cups, and so much more.

Cheryl will begin her time in the pop-up shop on Tuesday, September 1, and conclude on Friday, December 31, with hours still to be determined. (Note: During her stay, there will be several holidays impacting the pop-up shop’s availability.) She’ll also be taking some time off to celebrate her daughter’s wedding — so make sure to stay up to date with Cheryl’s availability and product selection by following SHMILY Tree Cakery on Facebook and Instagram.

The pop-up shop at Union Bank Place in downtown Lincoln gives business owners the opportunity to test out a brick-and-mortar location with built-in foot traffic. Offered to UBT business accountholders, the space is rent-free to the business owner for a four-month term. SHMILY Tree Cakery is the tenth occupant. Previous businesses have been Susa’s Sweets and Balloons, Studio Trouvaille, Moose’s Mad Fresh, Truth Papers, My Big Fat Greek Bakery, Rising Rolls Bakery, KT Designs, ET’s Sweets, and Vital Vines.