Pictured are ROC co-owners Peter McNiff (left) and Chih Fang. Photo Ohlen Alexander

The Republic of Cake, known as ROC to Orinda's cupcake-lovers, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary of business in Orinda. A the City Council's most recent meeting, ROC owner Peter McNiff told the Council Members that he had been forewarned about the curse of Theater Square. "But the clouds that had covered Theater Square seemed to break when we opened a year ago, and the sun has been shining on the place ever since, " said McNiff. Over the course of the last year, ROC donated over $8,000 of the store's proceeds to children's philanthropic causes including the Educational Foundation of Orinda (EFO). Every Monday 10% of ROC's revenues for the day are donated to EFO.