Conservatively, Coccadotts Cake Shop uses at least 50 pounds of buttercream each week. The homemade frosting is the sweet, delicious topper for nearly every fantastical creation, and each ounce of it is made each week by one person: Payton Dott '28.
When your mom is a prolific baker and entrepreneur with national star power and a small business to run, there are bound to be perks. For example, have you ever had a late night sweet tooth craving that went unsatisfied because there was nothing worthy in the fridge? Payton, a sports communications major from Loudonville (his home is one block from campus), doesn't know the feeling.
"I'd go to bed and then wake up in the middle of the night and sneak into the kitchen. I'd grab two cupcakes and a glass of milk, and take it all back to bed. In the morning, I would hear, 'Who ate these cupcakes?!'"
The business of cupcakes began with Payton's aunt and uncle, who owned the Vanilla Bean Baking Co. in Troy. Vanilla Bean closed up shop in 2007, but later that year, Payton's mom, Rachel Cocca, decided to give the cupcake game a try. She needed a name and a location. "Dott" came in handy for both.
Dotts Garage on Central Avenue has been the business on Payton's father's side for generations. Lucas Dott, Payton's dad, now runs the automobile repair shop, which has been servicing cars for more than 100 years. He urged his wife to open a cupcake shop on the property, and he charges just $1 a month in rent. Rachel's married name is Cocca-Dott. With a location and the name secured, an empire was launched.
From the first Central Avenue location, Rachel expanded into 10 different locations (most of them have now been sold). She also appeared on Cupcake Wars on Food Network three times. In her third attempt in 2013, Rachel took home the grand prize of $10,000, and as part of the bounty, her cupcakes were featured at WWE's SummerSlam. Her son, a huge John Cena fan, was able to attend as a VIP. Cena lost to Daniel Bryan in the main event.
"I was devastated when Cena lost. My eyes were all red and puffy from crying, but I looked up, and there he was. That was the best moment getting my picture taken with him (below, left)."
For all the late night stolen cupcakes and the behind-the-ropes encounter with his childhood hero, Payton figured he owed something to Coccadotts. Every Monday and Tuesday, Payton spends a couple of hours each night making the buttercream frosting for the week.
"It's a heavy job. I'm mixing in the sugar and the vanilla extract. I use more of the extract than I should, but I prefer it extra sweet."
Sometimes, members of the Siena basketball team swing by as well to lend a hand. Payton is a manager on the team.
"I want to pursue a career in coaching. I'm learning so much from the Siena staff. And I just love Siena. The overall community experience is just fantastic."
Payton is an only child, and he knows that working with his dad in the garage and taking over that family business is a possibility. Of course, Payton already has the buttercream down, so that family business could be an option, too. But right now, his heart is into coaching. So, who knows. But life sure is sweet when you have options.