Popular San Antonio bakery Laika Cheesecake & Espresso now serves its pint-sized sweets in the Alamo City suburb of Helotes. The mighty mini-chain recently opened its fourth area location at 11881 Bandera Rd., according to an Instagram post. If only the Golden Girls were alive to see it.

"Big news, Helotes," wrote the business. "Laika is finally opening its doors tomorrow at 10 am! Come be part of the excitement and see what we've been working so hard to bring to the community."

The sweet shop is mainly known for its individual cheesecake jars. The assortment varies weekly, but visitors can expect traditional San Antonio flavors like tres leches, traditional New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberry jam, and unexpected varieties like matcha.

The jars — and larger slices — are paired with various espresso drinks, creative tea drinks like apple pie chai, and frappes. Guests can also sip lighter drinks like freshly made lemonade and fruit-based seltzers.

Ukrainian immigrants Anna Afanasieva and Viktor Krizm founded the concept in 2020, naming the shop after the first dog to orbit the Earth. After the bakery settled into its groove, the couple moved into expansion mode.

An Alamo Ranch location debuted in August 2023, followed by its first storefront outside San Antonio city limits. The New Braunfels outpost opened in February 2024.

Afanasieva and Krizm have become just as known for their activism as their bite-sized desserts. Since 2022, the business has raised thousands of dollars by donating daily profits to their home country, continuing the effort as recently as March 8.

The Helotes location is near several other dessert shops in the growing bedroom community, including Shipley Do-Nuts, Crumbl Cookies, and Playa Bowls. The hours are 10 am-10 pm daily.