Cothran's Bakery — Restaurant in Gadsden

I've have lived in Gadsden for almost 2 years and on a daily bases, I would pass by this business, but I would never stop. until, about 2 weeks ago. My experience was okay maybe because I came at the right time which was opening 7:30 ish. This is the time I decided I would come and that's"opening". Today a day after Thanksgiving, I arrived a few minutes, after I normally would and I love their oozy goozy bars, with a dozen of glazed donuts, because my kids love Glaze Donuts. I prefer the bars, as I arrived I wasn't greet so then I felt out of place maybe the "Thanksgiving food was still activated" in this particular employee,I then was asked what can I get you? no hello!! how are you? the typically customer service greeting, I wanted to say never mind I decided not to get anything and leave. but I thought about my kids,and set my feelings as aide for them so I preceded to order my usual see above. As I go to check which is me paying and leaving without thinking to check my bag, so I left and was driving down the street to eat my bars, they were frozen and hard to break, so I turn around I'm like I thought to myself I've could been warned they were frozen. because usually they are soft and ready to ear will not today. As I return I asked for a refund just for my frozen bars then I overheard the lady who was waiting on me go to the back to argue her point.she thought I didn't hear her but basically I overheard heard here say I told her they were cold then when she came out with who I assume was a Mgr, I said if you had told me they were frozen,I would have never gotten the bars, what you said to me when I didn't see them in the window were you out? you replied I have some in the back if you had told me directly or specified they were frozen, I would have never gotten them because I'm not heading to a microwave or maybe out of courtesy you could have warm them up for me. but I wasn't extended that opportunity, this would have saved you and I an issue,she said nothing after I explained that to her with customers looking on. 2 of the customers who were waiting behind me agreed and was like I would did the same, I didn't want to keep engaging with the customers on the lack of communication,so I said it's okay then not realizing they had to refund my whole order and not just the bars, I then asked why was my whole order being refunded? I'm think they may have not known how to do a refund because it was about a good 3 minutes they were trying to refund me my money for the bars,then it went through. Then I was told I would have to be charged again for the donuts, but it would take 3 to 4 days for a refund. I was over it then I said it's okay I'll just leave then you would have thought they would try to rectify my issue, nothing.then never apologized for my inconvenience then as I drove off I thought to myself should I go back at this point I an undecided but here is my experience and I hope this long ordeal doesn't happen to anyone else.Cothran's Bakery please fix your customer...

Said I needed to pre-pay but wouldn't give me an estimate on how much it would be to make my cake. I am originally from Philadelphia and I still have my old philly number from when I moved to Alabama. The lady talked to me like I was stupid. Then I hung up the phone and called Cothrans Bakery again, but I called with my step son's phone instead. His phone has a Alabama area code so I called. The lady tried to make business with me and was polite now. Then when I requested for a black forest cake, she had the audacity to tell me there bakery can't make it.... Then simply dont put on your website that you can make any cake, when you simply can't. This bakery is misleading. So, I went with Creative Cakes & Cookies bakery instead. They wrote me a ticket through the phone, and set a time and date for when I can pick it up. I don't recommend Cothran's Bakery, too much hassle for a simple cake. Even though this bakery was closer to me. Creative Cakes & Cookies is further away but worth it.

Edit for 12/20/23: After 4 years of leaving my previous review I should have never tried again with this place. I wanted to order a dozen donuts, half glazed half chocolate frosted. Old lady at the front counter talked to me like I was stupid and said that they only had two chocolate frosted left. I said okay thats fine just make the rest glazed. Gentleman behind me was next in line and ordered a dozen glazed donuts. The other old lady says to him “Well you were easier” um excuse me? NEVER AGAIN WILL I EVER TRY DOING BUSINESS WITH COTHRANS BAKERY. Sad we have to live in a world with snobbish people. By the way I was the woman in the grinch onesie today. And yes I did roll my eyes at one of the old ladies when I walked out. Enjoy my first...

I have always heard horror stories and witnessed horrible cakes at friends weddings and birthday parties from Cothran's the past 10 years but for some reason I felt like I would give them a try because I thought how could they screw up a Peppa Pig cake with figurines on top. When I went in to order the cake the lady could not show me what the cake looked like but showed me the figurines that go on top. She said they make them all of the time and they are really cute. I felt uneasy when I left there about the order but kept reminding myself that there is no way they could screw that cake up. By the way, I ordered a month in advance. Fast forward to 3 days before the party. I still felt uneasy so I stopped in to check when I needed to pick up the cake for the party and make sure everything was still good to go. Apparently, they forgot to check my order and make sure they had enough figurines and they didn't. They weren't even going to let me know! They were just going to draw Peppa on the cake which is UGLY! If I would not have gone by there 3 days before the party I would have picked up a cake on Saturday that was nothing like I ordered! I was furious! They did refund my money but did not offer anything else. I advise to only buy what you can see in the store in the case that has already been made. Everything is delicious but apparently they have issues with custom orders. Thank goodness Publix is a reliable source for cakes and can have them ready with a 24 hour notice. If you do order a cake from there ask for a full detail receipt so if they do screw up your order you have proof of what it is suppose to look like. I advise you to go somewhere...