Our Story
​Polka Dot Pound Cake is more than just a bakery — it's a labor of love, a tribute to family traditions, and a testament to resilience and creativity. Founded by a passionate baker, Lisa Umansky, whose roots in baking stretch back to her Norwegian heritage, the bakery's story began long before its storefront on Long Beach Road.
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After moving to Rockville Center, NY in 1993, Umansky spent the early 2000s raising two daughters. However, her creative spirit called for more, and she turned to baking, a skill she had honed throughout her life, inspired by her mother's recipes. From 2008 to 2012, she sold her lovingly crafted baked goods at farmers markets across Long Island, where her reputation for delicious, homemade treats quickly grew.
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The turning point came in 2012, shortly after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Seizing an opportunity to expand her side business into something bigger, Umansky opened the doors to Polka Dot Pound Cake on Long Beach Road. What started as a humble side project became a beloved local institution, known for its whimsical name and unforgettable flavors, embodying the warmth, heritage, and tenacity of its founder.
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Today, Polka Dot Pound Cake continues to serve its community with a wide range of baked goods, all made from scratch and with love. Each bite is a reminder of the bakery's journey — rooted in tradition, fueled by passion, and built on the belief that even the smallest endeavors can rise into something extraordinary.
Lisa's Story
In 1985, Lisa Umansky opened her own dance studio, which she owned and taught at for 12 years. In 1997, she decided to hang up her tutu to spend more time at home with her daughter Emily. A year later, her second daughter, Hannah, was born. Before long, afternoons often meant flour on the counter and the joy of baking together.
Those family baking sessions sparked a new dream. The answer was right in front of her — the banana bread cooling on the counter. Inspired by the heavenly aromas of her Norwegian mother’s daily baking, Lisa carried forward a love for traditional American classics. The name Polka Dot Pound Cake — and its signature ribbons — pay tribute to her mother, who sewed cheerful polka-dotted trim onto the dresses she made for Lisa as a child.
By 2012, Polka Dot Pound Cake was a favorite at 13 farmers’ markets across Long Island. That same year, Lisa’s husband Paul came on board, joining the family business.
In December 2013, Lisa opened the Polka Dot Pound Cake storefront in Rockville Centre, which quickly became a neighborhood treasure.
In 2015, Lisa and Paul partnered with Old Westbury Gardens, where Paul now operates Café in the Woods. Both at the café and the bakery, guests can enjoy light breakfast, full lunch, cappuccinos, and beverages including wine, beer, and prosecco daily, along with Lisa’s baked goods.
By the fall of 2018, the Rockville Centre bakery expanded to include a café and Afternoon Tea room, offering not just baked goods, but a place to slow down, celebrate, and connect.
Today, Polka Dot Pound Cake also offers full catering services at Old Westbury Gardens and the Rockville Centre location, bringing the same warmth, flavor, and hospitality to private events.
