Courageous Baker Takes on Chicago Food Vendor Laws

Institute for Justice is representing Laura Pekarik of Cupcakes for Courage, and Greg Burke and Kristin Casper of Schnitzel King. They hope the city will build better food truck laws.

Cupcakes for Courage owner Laura Pekarik has joined the Institute for Justice and Schnitzel King owners Greg Burke and Kristin Casper in filing a lawsuit against the city of Chicago. In addition to her store, Courageous Bakery, at 108 W. Park St. in Elmhurst, Pekarik loads up her big green van every day with cupcakes and delivers them all over the city of Chicago. The proceeds are donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Schnitzel King, likewise, serves up Eastern European foods from its schnitzel cart. The problem is, Chicago law prevents any food truck from parking within 200 feet of any brick-and-mortar establishments that sells food—even convenience stores. (See accompanying video.) That Chicago law passed in July, and the fines …

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Eagerly Awaited Courageous Bakery Opens at 5 a.m. Monday!

Learn the back-story on Courageous Bakery. Store is open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Cupcakes for Courage New Elmhurst Store is All About Cupcakes—and so Much More

When asked how many hours a week she works, Laura Pekarik answered, "Who's counting"?

Never let it be said that a cupcake is just a cupcake. A cupcake can help fund a cause, add to a wedding celebration or simply cheer someone up. Cupcakes get Laura Pekarik out of bed in the morning—3:30 in the morning, in fact—every weekday. She gets up plenty early on weekends, too. The only thing more impressive than Laura's cupcakes is her work ethic. While most 26-year-olds admirably are getting their feet wet in the corporate world, Laura, at 26, is running a company. In fact, she may be on the verge of a cupcake empire. Those who have tried the gooey, one-of-a-kind creations by Cupcakes for Courage say they are impossible to resist. But a lot of people in Elmhurst haven't had the chance to try them yet. That's because, while Laura …

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All is Fair in Love and Cupcakes

Cupcakes for Courage girls do their thing for a national audience.

It was standing-room only Sunday night as crowds gathered around multiple TVs cheering for their favorite team and trash-talking the opponents. The suspense was palatable. Bets were being made. But this wasn't the Steelers vs Broncos game, or Hawks vs Red Wings. No, it was a huge screening party for … wait for it … "CUPCAKE WARS"! The drinks flowed and cupcakes were passed all night to partiers at Flight 112 Wine House in Elmhurst as they watched the newest episode of the Food Network show. Why were scores of people cheering on their favorite baker? Because their favorite baker is Cupcakes for Courage owner Laura Pekarik, and Laura wasn't going down without a fight. Laura and her baking partner on the show, Katie Larsen, didn't tell anyone…

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