UpRising Bakery and Cafe is a cafe like no other — located in Lake in the Hills, this small business is doing big things for the community.

UpRising offers a wide variety of food, sweets and drinks that are made with allergy sensitive ingredients to accommodate those that are vegan, gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, keto, and much more. Not only are they food conscious, they are eco-conscious as well. UpRising uses 100 percent compostable, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging, and their food waste is nearly zero — what doesn’t get used gets composted. Lastly, and probably most importantly, UpRising serves as a communal place for the Lake in the Hills community and beyond. All who enter are welcomed by their friendly atmosphere and outstanding customer service.

While UpRising continues to be a strong force within the community, they are still facing negative backlash from an incident that happened over the summer. The cafe was severely vandalized, hate speech slurs were written all over the walls and windows were shattered. This came right after the bakery had announced they were going to host a drag show brunch. Although devastating, the negative effects from this incident go beyond the physical damage. For months following the initial attack, protestors lined up in front of the business and on the side of Algonquin Road. Many of the protests were from anti-LGBTQ+ groups, and those not in favor of the drag show.

Corinna Sac, owner of UpRising Bakery and Cafe, said that right after the incident “there was a ton of negativity, and to counteract the negativity we had a flood of support for the first couple months thereafter the attack.”

Sac also mentioned that there has been a lot of misinformation being spread about her business which has turned away many of her customers. “Unfortunately, we are on the brink of closing our doors, and that is a direct result of what happened over the summer,” said Sac.

UpRising Bakery and Cafe originally started out as Desserts by Corinna, before it officially became a bakery and cafe on November 1, 2021. Sac has always been interested in being a baker. She worked as a baker in high school, went to school for baking, and continued to bake after college as well. “My ultimate goal has always been to run a bakery and café,” Sac said.

While there are many aspects to UpRising that make them a spectacular bakery, one of the things that they are best known for is their allergy sensitive menu. The first thing Sac wants a customer to know when they step into her bakery is that “we cater to all of the community and their dietary restrictions.” It can be very difficult for people with food-sensitive allergies to find places near them that cater to their dietary needs. One of Sac’s main goals when opening UpRising was to be a place of inclusivity, leaving no one to feel left out.

If you’re looking for a sweet treat, a refreshing drink, or just a place to go and hang out, UpRising Bakery and Cafe, at 2104 Algonquin Road, is the place to be. They offer a handful of community activities every week, ranging from live music to art showcases. They have an inclusive menu, offering foods and treats that can be made gluten free, vegan, keto friendly, sugar free, egg free, and much more. They also offer a traditional menu as well.

UpRising Bakery and Cafe is a proud woman and LGBTQ+ owned and operated business. When you choose to support UpRising, you are not just supporting a small business — you are supporting the hardworking people that make it happen, as well as a movement toward a more eco-friendly and inclusive world.