Long-awaited cheesecake shop open in Whitney Plaza

Lights, camera and action on Whitney Plaza. Gary Hagen has brought Hollywood to Longboat Key through his new cheesecake shop, Elegant Lady Cheesecake.

After Hagen worked for about a year on opening the shop, Elegant Lady Cheesecake opened less than two months ago, but Hagen said that the success is through the roof. 

The shop is decorated with Hollywood memorabilia from Hagen's years of working in California. He also just added a 10-foot Oscar Award statue as a finishing touch. He said everything in Elegant Lady Cheesecake represents a part of him and that's what he loves sharing with the community.

"I had all kinds of food here, but it's disappeared," said Hagen. "The first month has been great. Customers love the attitude I have and then they love the food and will go to tell their friends. The people I've met have just embraced me here."

Hagen is consistently listening to customers' feedback and adding new items to the menu by request. Along with his famous cheesecakes, he has ice cream, donuts, cupcakes, gluten-free pies, waffles, quiches, chicken pot pie, New York-style bagels, hot dogs and more.

He said that this first month was more than he imagined. He is happy to finally settle in and become a part of the Longboat Key community.