Greensburg junior Leslye Davis has worked at Imagine Cakes, Candies & More since mid-August. “We’re Bowling Green’s best kept secret,” Davis said, with a laugh. The shop, located downtown, has little street exposure. “Today is slow,” Davis said. EMILY FOX/HERALD

Louisville freshman Alicia Clark wandered down a cozy alley in downtown Bowling Green with some friends during her first week at Western.

A string of white lights and a sign that said “Imagine” above a door in the alley caught her attention.

She ventured in to find all sorts of candy, cookies and cupcakes.

“The cotton candy cupcakes are the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my entire life,” she said. “On Fridays, I go stock up on sweets for the weekend there.”

Imagine Cakes, Candies & More, at 422 E. Main Ave., opened in May, said Christina Jones, owner and Bowling Green native.

She opened her first bakery in Austin, Texas.

“I had just gotten laid off when I went to work at a supermarket bakery,” she said. “I had all these ideas and had the urge to make wacky and elaborate cakes when I was told I wasn’t allowed to make those kinds of cakes there.”

So Jones used her savings to open Imagine, which specializes in creative and intricate cake decorating. The store in Austin was open for two years before Jones decided to move to Bowling Green.

“I wanted to move back to Bowling Green for my son,” she said. “All my family lives up here and I wanted him in a good school.”

Imagine offers all sorts of confections made from Jones’ own recipes including custom cakes for weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.

She admits that sometimes the job of baking and handling the business can be demanding.

“Sometimes it’s really stressful,” Jones said. “It’s all worth it knowing that I make something truly beautiful for someone and make them happy.”

Imagine has student favorites like chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for $1.50 and individual bourbon balls for just under a dollar. Jones also makes chocolate-covered pretzels and cookies, all for under $2.

Imagine strays away from the sweets and offers a small sandwich menu for lunch, she said. It includes a turkey sandwich, a grilled chicken sandwich and a different special each day of the week.

Jones said she might open another store in a couple of years. “Right now it’s a small, close-knit operation,” she said.

Jones has two employees who help her with baking and taking orders.

Greensburg junior Leslye Davis began working at Imagine in August.

“There are these two small kids who come in here every week,” she said with a grin. “I buy them small treats with the tips that I make. That’s why I love working here — there’s a real sense of family.”