What started with a disappointing airport cinnamon roll has grown into one of Celina’s most talked-about cafés. The Wick, owned by Cleve and Kim Wickliffe, began as a home-based cinnamon roll venture during the early days of COVID-19. Today, it’s a full-service breakfast and lunch spot in a restored 1940s home on South Colorado Street, where scratch-made comfort food meets a deep love for community.
A Recipe Born In Quarantine
The idea took shape on the couple’s honeymoon in Jamaica. After a lackluster snack, Cleve promised Kim he’d make her cinnamon rolls worth remembering. “That wasn’t unusual because he did that kind of stuff all the time — and they were fantastic,” Kim tells Local Profile.
A few weeks later, with COVID-19 halting his work as an optician, Cleve began baking them regularly. “I put them on our local Facebook page, and the next morning we had 12 orders,” Kim says. For the next three years, they sold cinnamon rolls from their home under the name Swirls Bakery.
As the business evolved, so did the menu. Catering requests rolled in, and what began as a bakery expanded into a restaurant. In 2024, they opened The Wick in downtown Celina, expanding beyond baked goods to a full menu of breakfast, lunch and signature drinks.
Signature Dishes With A Twist
While the cinnamon rolls remain the star, served in their classic form or transformed into French toast and breakfast sandwiches, The Wick’s menu is full of crowd favorites. The Celina Breakfast pairs eggs, potatoes and candied bacon with a roll, while the BLT and breakfast tacos are among the most popular orders. Lunch offerings range from creamy tomato soup to wagyu beef chili, all made from scratch with natural, locally sourced ingredients. And all are seriously delicious. Everything. Every. Single. Thing.
The drinks are just as thoughtfully crafted. Guests can sip on a blackberry basil smash, an espresso martini, or the seasonal lavender lemonade. Coffee lovers find plenty to enjoy too, thanks to custom-roasted beans from McKinney’s Fourteen Eighteen Coffee Roasters.
Building More Than A Restaurant
For the Wickliffes, The Wick is as much about people as it is about food. The restaurant hosts live music, painting workshops, school spirit nights and themed events, including a “first-day-of-school” mimosa party for parents. The couple’s Mimosa Club, a one-time $75 membership, offers $7 mimosas year-round and occasional specials like $5 pours during August.
Community involvement runs deep. The Wick partners with local businesses, supports charity drives, and even provides full-service catering and private event hosting.
A Local Staple With Staying Power
Today, The Wick stands out in Celina’s dining scene for its balance of comfort and creativity. From house-baked breads to seasonal specials, every dish reflects Cleve’s culinary skill and Kim’s gift for hospitality. “Life is funny,” Kim says. “We didn’t plan on this happening, but here we are.”
For anyone passing through Celina — or lucky enough to call it home — The Wick offers more than a meal. It’s a place where good food, good drinks and good company meet under one roof.
The Wick is located at 107 S Colorado St, Celina. We thank The Wick for hosting and treating us.
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