What do you get when you mix two sisters from Brookland, a kitchen at the former Island Jim’s restaurant, and all natural ingredients? You get Capital City Cheesecake, the newest addition to Brookland’s entrepreneurial scene.

Caitlin and Meaghan Murphy grew up in Brookland, went to school in Brookland, and couldn’t imagine opening a business anywhere else.

When health issues prevented Caitlin Murphy from working in a regular office environment, the sisters put their heads together and came up with a solution. Using Meaghan’s recent business degree from Trinity University and Caitlin’s magic recipe for cheesecake, they launched Capital City Cheesecake earlier this year.

By August, the new business owners had all their permits and licenses in order and it was official: Capital City Cheesecake was open for business.

The sisters are relying on several key ingredients to make their business a success: producing the best possible product at a reasonable price, and offering a product that people find delicious (and possibly addictive). “We have to offer our clients something that is spectacular,” said Meaghan.

Caitlin Murphy does the baking, and she does it by hand—literally. She kneads the dough with her hands to get the perfect, fluffy texture, with no mixers involved. “It’s like my clay,” she said.

The results make it obvious why she goes to these lengths: her cheesecakes are light and delicate, not dense and overly rich. Imagine a cheesecake from Costco or Giant, and then imagine the polar opposite. That is a Capital City Cheesecake.

For now, Caitlin and Meaghan are trying to break into the restaurant, wedding and special events markets. “We’ve just been marketing and marketing and marketing,” said Meaghan.

The duo accepts orders for just one cheesecake for a family dinner, to hundreds for a special event. Cheesecakes come in three sizes: bite size, 4.5” and 10”. They range in price from $2 to $50, and orders are placed by web or phone.

Locally, Colonel Brooks' Tavern recently added Capital City Cheesecakes to the menu.

Custom designs and fresh toppings are a specialty of the duo, who make all the toppings fresh daily. Flavors include original, original with fruit topping, creme brulee, keylime, red velvet and chocolate mint.

“I feel like I’m along for the ride,” said Caitlin. “Cheesecake has a life of its own.”