New York Cupcakes: outta here

Another multi-location food purveyor has closed its Madison Valley store, Bellevue-based New York Cupcakes' ending its foray into Seattle after only eleven months on this side of the water. NYC's last day was July 31, according to Seattle Met's Nosh Pitt blog.  New York Cupcakes thus follows the lead of Woodinville-based Bill the Butcher, which closed its Madison Valley operation earlier in the month.

We were not entirely surprised by the exit of New York Cupcakes, which had been struggling to find an audience since its opening in September.  Owner Lisa Waxman Johnson admitted to us last year that the store was not performing up to her expectations. In explanation of the closing, NYC posted this comment on its Facebook page: "Madison Valley is a great neighborhood but not the one for us (parking is super tough!)."  Bill the Butcher, in commenting on our story about the closure of its Madison Valley store, said much the same thing about its departure: "One of the many things we have learned in our first three years is the importance of parking---something our Madison Shop has always struggled with since it's opening."

It's not true, however, that no multi-location operation can make a go of it in Madison Valley.  Essential Baking is a good case in point.  And on the horizon, of course, is the new Pagliacci Pizza store which will soon be opening in the former location of Spotless Cleaners.  We expect to be sharing details on that later this week.

[New York Cupcakes was located at 2711 E. Madison St. Pagliacci Pizza will be located at 3015 E. Madison St.]

Free cupcakes at New York Cupcakes Saturday

Though the store actually opened in early September, the official Grand Opening of New York Cupcakes' Madison Valley location will occur tomorrow, with the store giving away 500 mini-cupcakes as part of the celebration.  In addition, there will be  a charity raffle for the grand-prize giveaway, The Ultimate Cupcake Birthday Party, where New York Cupcakes will throw a party for one lucky individual and 24 of his or her closest friends. The party will include cupcakes made by NYC, cupcake wrappers by Bella Cupcake Couture, invitations by local artist Jessie Olsen of Cakespy, flowers by Toppers florist, a photo booth by Art of Subtlety, and a $100.00 gift certificate to Common Folk Co. for the birthday person. Raffle tickets will cost $1, with all proceeds benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

There will also be hourly prizes awarded during the celebration, which begins at 10 am and ends at 5 pm.  The raffle winner will be announced promptly at the end of the Grand Opening, according to owner Lisa Waxman Johnson.

New York Cupcakes is located at 2711 E. Madison St.