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(92 posts)

Rant- Cupcake Royale

Started 2 years ago by saney
Latest reply from kblsngrits

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saney
Member Profile

first, i'll get this out of the way...yes, i did voice this complaint to the only employees working before i left the store...response: a shrug and insincere "sorry". i will also email them again (i have complained via email once before without any response.

today is july 31. today is the last day to buy their cupcake of the month. i have tried 3 times this month to taste this thing. 3 times, i have been unsuccessful.

yesterday, i went in at 5pm. THREE hours before they close and there was a limited selection of cupcakes for purchase....and not one of their monthly cupcake special. when i said something, the cashier said that i should come in early in the morning if i want to try it. what? do they not realize that people might like to stop in after work?

the second time in july that i tried to get this elusive strawberry cupcake, i went in one hour before closing and they had NO CUPCAKES available.

i understand that they dont want to have to throw them out, but if i make a special trip to have a cupcake, they should have some available. if they made a batch in the afternoon and had leftovers, they could sell them first thing the next morning. they would be less than a day old.

it is increasingly difficult to find free parking in the junction. i will no longer make these special trips down there to specifically patronize cupcake royale....because i dont know if they will even have cupcakes for sale.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

saney...

it's just a cupcake... with a limited time offer...

but you are right, if their cupcake of the month generally isn't available past mid morning... then they aren't doing much to attract afternoon business with them if they don't make a larger supply... :)

it's good to feel passionate about something.. even if it is a new cupcake :)

Posted 2 years ago #
flowerpetal
Member Profile

It would be difficult for me to be passionate at all for baked items from Cupcake Royale. I can't understand how they survive. I hope you find a better replacement Saney.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

So what would a good replacement be for a low cost higher quality indulgence?
inquiring palates want to know :->

Posted 2 years ago #
JanS
Member Profile

Coffee To A Tea across and down the street has better cakes...or leave the peninsula and go to Trophy cupcakes in Wallingford...yummmmm...

Posted 2 years ago #
Lowery
Member Profile

"...what do you mean there's no straw-freakin-berry cupcakes left?!? Serenity Now...Serenity Now!!!"

Posted 2 years ago #
flowerpetal
Member Profile

The Original Bakery comes to mind. But JoB, you're a cook... I'm guessing that your a better cupcake maker thank C.R.

Posted 2 years ago #
charlabob
Member Profile

Coffee to a Tea, indeed; we gave up on CR when they first opened for the same reason; how can you be out of cupcakes two hours before you close? I'm sorry to see nothing has changed, but happy for C2T.

Posted 2 years ago #
saney
Member Profile

JoB. I realize it is just a cupcake. but it is annoying to drive down there specifically for something, find a parking space and then walk from the Oregon end of the junction in the heat and then not get what you went out of your way for.

they could bake extra and then sell the leftovers in the morning for a bit less. (or have a special for "Half day old cupcake and a cup of coffee" for people catching the busses into downtown).

i love their red velvet cupcakes, but those sell out quickly as well.

if i am in the junction for other reasons and happen to walk by, i might go in. but no more trips to the juction for them specifically.

Posted 2 years ago #
JenV
Member Profile

it's not that much to expect a place called CUPCAKE Royale to actually have CUPCAKES for sale, fer crissakes.

I personally don't go there, ever since I tried to pick up a dozen cupcakes for a work meeting one morning and was quoted a price of $50. they can take a flying leap at a rolling donut. heh heh.

oh, and I have seen people get "passionate" over much less on this blog. It's not nice to belittle someone for a legitimate complaint.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

JenV...

and i thought you liked me:(

I had no intent to belittle.. i thought i was gently chiding... did you miss all of the smiley faces?

I don't use smiles as cover for insults. When i belittle someone i do so with full intent and no cover.

I suspect that is why i have had some of my posts removed:(

Saney...

If i drove down to the junction to get a specific cupcake at cupcake Royale and it wasn't there i would be pretty ticked too...

I wouldn't drive to the junction for a cupcake... even at Coffe to a tea... though i have had their cupcakes and they are good...

i think i have been in Cupcake Royale twice and we left the second time because it was too noisy and the staff too indifferent... so it wouldn't be my first choice.

but i do drive to White Center to get ice cream at Full Tilt and i am sorely disappointed if i walk in the door and he is out of Mexican Chocolate...

It is clear they are losing loyal customers by not delivering on their promotions...

perhaps they will read this and take appropriate action. If you like their cupcakes enough to make a special trip for them, i hope they respond by making the special special enough to be available for more customers. It's happened before :)

In the meantime, you might write the owners a letter letting them know how disappointed you are that you have been unable to taste their specials even though you make an effort to stop by on your way home from work. My guess is that they make an effort to keep a loyal customer.

If they don't, your loyalty is misplaced and you will find parking behind Coffee to a tea and an old fashioned customer reward box on the counter.

I meant it when i said it was good to be passionate about something.. even a cupcake ;-)

edit...

i missed that you had emailed them with no success. it is unlikely a letter would get more response, but you never know. some businesses aren't as good responding to their email as they are to the mail...

either way... i hope you get a free cupcake out of this:)

i would be happy to buy you one myself if we can do it some place other than Cupcake Royale... i appreciate your loyalty but I am not a fan.

Maybe we could arrange a cupcake forum meet-up :) That has so many intriguing possibilities...

Posted 2 years ago #
bluebird
Member Profile

I gave the Ballard store one try and the WS store one try. Blech! Dry and flavorless. I can not fathom why they are still in business at $4 a pop. They have a great logo/name and idea. That's it. There is no mystery to a good cupcake and icing. The fact that someone who specializes in them, can't master the process is inexcusable.

And if you refuse to provide your product for the duration of advertised hours (on a regular basis), you shouldn't be open.

Posted 2 years ago #
Gina
Member Profile

Metropolitan Market sells Cupcake Royale cupcakes, they have a bigger supply than the Junction shop. Flavor of the month cupcake is there, too. They sell them in 4 packs in pink box, or at the bakery counter you can pick up singles.

Posted 2 years ago #
pam
Member Profile

I generally only go there when I have a coupon from the entertainment book BUT I did have one of the strawberry cupcakes you are writing about when we were at the Streetfair, the frosting was delicious!

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

I love this forum..

you ask and someone knows where or how to get what you want...

i need a couple of teens or strong bodies of any age to exchange furniture in two adjoining rooms... because of an error in judgement about whether or not we would need an a/c unit in Seattle:( who knew?

and yes, i expect to pay them:)

anyone have recommendations ?

Great business opportunity for someone.. grandkids for hire... too many of us without families nearby need to a little help now and then:(

Posted 2 years ago #
villagegreen
Member Profile

It's just like Shoofly Pie, sometimes they're out of the pie you want and so you get something different - it's all good. If you're dead set on knowing whether they have a specific cupcake flavor in stock, try giving them a call: 206-932-2971.

Posted 2 years ago #
bsmomma
Member Profile

I have been there several times hours before closing to find out they're OUT OF CUPCAKES? Huh? That's like going to a coffee place and having them tell you we're out of cofee. I agree about selling any left overs 1st thing in the morning. Even offering them at a discount. Wouldn't you rather atleast make back what it cost to make and get a new customer than make no money and have a disgruntled potential customer? I personally think the cupcakes at PCC (I forget the bakery that makes & delivers them) are AMAZING! So moist and the frosting is thick and creamy. Yummmmmm!

Posted 2 years ago #
WSMom
Member Profile

Cupcake Royale was featured on NPR this morning:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111339763&sc=fb&cc=fp

Posted 2 years ago #
sld
Member Profile

You can make your own -

Strawberry Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cake flour (not self-rising)
• 1 T. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 ¼ cups sugar
• 1 ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 3 large whole eggs, plus 1 egg white
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups finely chopped fresh strawberries (about 20), plus about 10 more for garnish
• Strawberry Meringue Buttercream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift together
both flours, baking powder, and salt.
With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until pale and fluffy. Add whole eggs and the white, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk, and beating until well combined. Fold in chopped strawberries by hand.
Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each ¾ full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through until golden and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool 15 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto rack and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored up to 1 day at room temperature in airtight containers.
To finish, fill a pastry bag with a large open-star tip (Wilton #8B) with buttercream. Pipe buttercream onto each cupcake, swirling tip and releasing as you pull to form a peak. Just before serving, thinly slice remaining strawberries, and tuck a few pieces into buttercream.

Posted 2 years ago #
JenV
Member Profile

I'll have to remember next time I insult someone I call it "chiding" and be sure and add lots of smiley faces. :) :) :) see, that feels much better when you add smileys!

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

WSMom

ok, ok...

so maybe the meet-up should be at Cafe Royale instead...

i believe in putting my money where my mouth is and a cupcake is a cupcake...

FYI... if i bought cupcakes.. i would pay an extra 25cents each to insure that the employees got quality health care...

saney...

it looks as though the owner has been too busy lately to respond to her email... that's a good thing for those who need quality health care at an affordable price..

but not for an unhappy customer.

Posted 2 years ago #
JW
Member Profile

Am I going to side with someone who has the time and money to try to track down a specific cupcake (and complain about it very publicly)... OR am I going to side with a small-business owner who is actively trying to make a difference for the health/welfare of her employees and healthcare in general on a national level (heard the NPR piece this AM... she went to the White House for crissakes!).

The silly complaints are just that... silly. Maybe we should do more to (diplomatically) support local businesses?

Posted 2 years ago #
feefeelarue
Member Profile

Go to Eats Market Cafe the cupcakes there are totally scrumptious. I wish Trophy would come to WS they have the best ever!!

Posted 2 years ago #
datamuse
Member Profile

Maybe we should do more to (diplomatically) support local businesses?

How does one do that once they are out of product?

I sympathize with the owner's concerns, but she's hardly the only one.

Posted 2 years ago #
JW
Member Profile

datamuse... you simply don't use this kind of very public forum to complain... I seriously doubt they've been out of cupcakes on a regular basis. Why not give them the benefit of the doubt and go to talk to the owner rather than post here (or wait for a response to the e-mail complaint)... sorry, but this is the kind of topic that makes me want to give up reading these Forums forever; people with (IMO) very petty complaints (A STRAWBERRY CUPCAKE) have the power to deal a serious blow to a small business, when no one can be sure the original story is accurate...

Posted 2 years ago #
swimcat
Member Profile

datamuse @24- lol. I've also paid a few visits in the evening to CR only to find a barren display case. I only eat cupcakes at night, it's not a morning or afternoon treat.

And frankly, I don't think their cupcakes are that good. Too dry and flavorless. Though their chocolate frosting is quite good, I will admit.

I have a simple palate I suppose, but I still think the best cupcakes are homemade from a box. Betty Crocker mixes are the best and you can make two dozen and frost them for less than $3 if you buy the ingredients on sale.

I used to LOVE Coffee to a Tea's cupcakes, but the last few I had were too dry so I've switched to eating homemade ones. Sorry- I will gladly support all local cupcake shops when I can reliably buy an excellent MOIST cake!

Posted 2 years ago #
gunnerddog
Member Profile

Coffee to a Tea's cupcakes are sooooo much better. Much moister than CR's. The times I have gone to CR, the cakes are dry and the frosting overly sugary. Plus, the staff at the Juncion shop can be downright rude. I haven't noticed the same thing at their Ballard store. Coffee to a Tea has incredibly friendly staff who enjoy talking and interacting with customers. They don't feel that the people providing revenue to their business are some sort of imposition in their lives.

Viva la Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

JW..

if we can't complain here.. where?

This is a forum.. the advertising section for businesses is located to the right of your screen.

you have the same opportunity to post positive experiences with a business that anyone else has to post negative.. and some people do just that.. that's where the raves come from.

would you have us be all raves and no rants? life isn't like that.

as for veracity... none of us knows for sure that anything anyone posts here is true... but that is a huge leap from assuming that any complaint anyone posts is fabricated.

I am all for supporting local businesses.. so much so that i would support meeting up at a local business that campaigns for causes i support (Cafe Royale) even though i don't much care for their cupcakes...

i wouldn't have known that if not for the OPs rant.

but Cafe Royal isn't the only business in West Seattle that cuts their bottom line to provide their workers with health care or supports causes i support.. or...

they just got publicity today for doing the right thing.

And supporting any cause could do them more harm than good...

in fact, in another thread on this forum a local businessperson was thoroughly trashed for speaking up for a cause because someone thought business owners should be publicly neutral.

the bottom line is that Cafe Royale still has to sell cupcakes people want to buy to stay in business.

some companies have wisely begun datamining on-line forums to read their customer comments.. there is a wealth of information here that could potentially help them increase their business...

That's what i would do if i was a local business. You once had no option but to pay big bucks for this kind of feedback.

Posted 2 years ago #
sam-c
Member Profile

sld- what about the recipe for the: "Strawberry Meringue Buttercream" ?

so if there was a forum meet up at cupcake royale, what happens when there's only enough cupcakes for half of the people that show up?

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

JenV...

you are insulting me by insisting that it was my intent to insult someone else.

and no, smiley faces don't help.

having a bad day?

Posted 2 years ago #
JW
Member Profile

JoB, you are right on many points and I was probably too quick on the trigger... but... we are obviously of fundamentally different opinions on the issue of whether this kind of topic serves any purpose other than harm. I've seen enough pettiness in these forums to last me a lifetime; truly, I keep coming back to the fact that this is an unverified complaint, these are exceptionally hard times for business owners (not to mention the Junction in general!!), and this is a SBO who is helping make a real difference in people's lives. So, valid complaint or not, it's a cupcake... when I weigh out the significance of it all in my mind, I just am more sympathetic to a struggling business owner in my local community. And with that, I should probably stop reading these forums... I probably don't belong here, with the folks who like to rant/wax poetic about baked goods.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

sam-c

we share.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

JW..

I personally don't feel passionate enough about baked goods to rant or rave about any of them..

but i do have a particular passion for Full Tilt ice cream and Paisanos broiled chicken.. and no stakehold in either except a desire to see them succeed so my favorites are available:)

You are right that a rant here can impact a small business the same way that a rave here produces a blog bump in business.

That is why the forum rules for a rant include an attempt to work any disagreement out with the business.. as the OP did by both speaking with employees and by emailing.

but you or i could rant or rave all we wanted and if no-one agreed with us, then it wouldn't hurt or help a business at all.

This is where forums like this can become a very useful tool to a business, helping them to better meet their customer needs.

as for the pettiness some days... well it is just that.. pettiness.

some of it is intended and some of it something that that is read into a post that was never the posters intent...

but mostly, it's not worth getting too upset about.

my guess is that Cafe Royale will come out ahead on this rant...

people like me will choose to patronize them for no other reason than the owner's support of a public option for health care... in my opinion.. a necessity for the health of small businesses...

Want to meet for a cupcake?

I don't care if they have the strawberry special or not.. everything goes better with chocolate:)

Posted 2 years ago #
charlabob
Member Profile

The cupcake department in coffee to a tea is a small business inside a small business so I don't feel disloyal. There were at least four people in this thread who went to a cupcake store and didn't find, um, cupcakes. When Shoofly is out of one kind of pie, you buy another -- if they were out of all kinds of pies, I suspect they'd buy new inventory management software. Sheesh.

Coffee to a Tea makes lots of the minicupcakes. The first battle I had with Cupcake Royale was when I, like Jen, wanted to buy some to take to work. I couldn't afford to buy the large ones so I wanted to buy the mini ones. They had enough, but they wouldn't sell them to me because they wanted to look like they had more. "If you want a big order (12 cupcakes?) you have to call ahead 24 hours -- it says so on our web site."

Yup, I asked -- I complained -- I complained the second and third time. After that, I just walk right by.

Posted 2 years ago #
swimcat
Member Profile

I don't think it's very unreasonable to expect the product a small bakery specializes in to be available at the end of the day, the time that most people want to enjoy the product. I'm not a small business owner but would assume that there is an easy and profitable solution to this OP's rant. Just my two cents though.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

charlabob...

could we meet at the corner with cupcakes purchased from either Cafe Royale or Coffee to a Tea?

i don't even want a cupcake so i am finding it difficult to care ...

either way we should call ahead so someone will have enough cupcakes for all of us.

:))))

I am getting this wonderful fantasy of shutting the junction down while we all congregate for our cupcake tea party ... who is bringing the tea?

Posted 2 years ago #
sam-c
Member Profile

JoB- You can't share a CR cupcake; I've tried. If you try to break part of it off/ in half, the whole things falls into your lap in a big pile of crumbs.

like you mention above, sounds like forum peeps would have to convene somewhere after purchasing treats from store of choice.

Posted 2 years ago #
CMP
Member Profile

I just ate a mini cupcake from CR and am not too impressed. They've changed their recipe so that the cake is moister but it tastes like it's from a box. Then they changed the frosting and it's not nearly as good as it used to be. Then they got rid of my favorite cake (the MoFro)and replaced it with the salted caramel (blech!). Then they have surly employees and run out of inventory by 3:00 pm. Geez, I could go on and on about Cupcake Royale but I think you get the point.

That's why I buy my cupcakes down in Portland (luckily I'm there quite often) at Cupcake Jones b/c they kick a$$...and probably make mine fatter but that's beside the point. Bottom line is that CR needs to manage their inventory better. There's nothing more irritating than going to a shop for something specific and they have nothing left of what you wanted hours before they even close. Clearly they're doing fine though if they're selling out of cupcakes so I doubt any of the complaints written here will make them improve.

Posted 2 years ago #
saney
Member Profile

couple of things...

i never said i dislike their cupcakes. the red velvet is my favorite "regular". i just really wanted to try the strawberry special.

i dont want their business to fail..i want it to improve...hence the suggestion about selling the leftover cupcakes the next morning. could INCREASE business because a)perhaps word will get out that they fixed the problem with running out of cupcakes by making extra and b)word will get out that you can get a discounted cupcake with your morning coffee.

someone said cupcakes were $4..they are actually $2.50 and $2.75(for the specials, which they consider the red velvet to be).

i dont think having rants on a public forum does damage to business. i think it gives businesses a way to get free market research. if someone from CR reads this and fixes the problem, they used a great opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. i included a link to this thread in my email, so maybe that will happen.

Posted 2 years ago #
Smitty
Member Profile

I know absolutely nothing about the situation, but I do think that sanely acted stupidly.

Beer?

Posted 2 years ago #
Jiggers
Member Profile

$2.75 for a cupcake..lmao!! I would never spend that kind of money on a stupid cupcake. You people are getting hosed.

Posted 2 years ago #
sam-c
Member Profile

I'd say the same thing about people that buy a $4 coffee drink every day (especially an iced one, which really looks to be a big cup of frozen water with espresso shot thrown in for flavoring)

but different strokes for different folks. I certainly don't bake during the summer. and a cupcake, CR or coffee to a tea hits the spot on some days .. if they are available.

Posted 2 years ago #
Cait
Member Profile

Don't waste your time - go straight to Coffee to a Tea.

Posted 2 years ago #
sld
Member Profile

Here it is Sam-C:

Strawberry Meringue Buttercream

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries (8 ounces), rinsed, hulled, and coarsely chopped
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons, room temperature

Puree strawberries in a food processor. Combine egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl
of a standing electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly by hand until mixture is warm to the touch and sugar has dissolved (the mixture should feel completely smooth when rubbed between your fingertips).
Attach the bowl to the mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low and gradually increasing to medium-high speed, mix until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Continue mixing until the mixture is fluffy and glossy, and completely cool (test by touching the bottom of the bowl), about 10 minutes.
With mixer on medium-low speed, add the butter a few T. at a time, mixing well after each addition. Once all the butter has been added, scrape down sides of bowl with a flexible spatula and switch to the paddle attachment; continue beating on low speed until all air bubbles are eliminated, about 2 minutes. Add strawberries and beat until combined. Stir with a flexible spatula until the frosting is smooth. Keep buttercream at room temperature if using the same day, or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat with paddle attachment on low speed until smooth again, about 5 minutes.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

sam-c

:(

smitty...

saney didn't post stupidly.. she was perfectly coherent... and doesn't appear to be biased against any flavor cupcake... or against cafe royale. she just wants her cupcake.

you want your beer... and likely a meet up around beer would draw more attention today... in fact a meet-up that included beer and totally blocking the intersection in the junction sounds like it would be a big draw.. even though it would get us all arrested on too many counts to count.

i bet both Cafe Royale and Coffee to a Tea got blog bumps from this topic today anyway:) i nearly ventured out there myself. The only thing stopping me were the dogs.. can't have them wait in the car on a day like today... not even for a chocolate rush... cupcakes backed with broiled dog just doesn't sound appetizing:(

i can't get too passionate about beer either since i can't drink it any more... and what i remember is unfortunately really old news.

tho.. i am still considered a wine expert by friends and family that knew me when.. go figure.

But if anyone changes my favorite restaurants to pepsi products... i won't wait to meet them in a dark alley.. i will beat them about the head and shoulders with a cane i keep for just such opportunities...

never mess with a granny.. we're old and weak so if we're going to fight we have to fight dirty ;-0

that's my story and i am sticking to it ;->

Posted 2 years ago #
MargL
Member Profile

Envisioning WSBlog flash-mob where everyone goes and buys a mini-cupcake of their choice from either CR or Coffee to a Tea. Then we all stand out in the middle of California/Alaska intersection during an "All Walk" cycle and eat them.

Posted 2 years ago #
JoB
Member Profile

MargL

i bet that would get us on u-tube:)

Posted 2 years ago #
Cait
Member Profile

MargL - I'm going to be in the junction tonight and I'm ALL FOR THIS!!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
pigeonmom
Member Profile

I used to say "what's the big deal?" over CR until I tried them again recently. They have changed their cake recipe and now they are moist and delicious! I don't eat them all the time so yes, I will pay $2.75 for a treat from time to time. I know I can make delicious and perhaps less expensive cupcakes at home but I cannot eat them all before they go bad.

Posted 2 years ago #
getreal
Member Profile

True story -- I went to KFC once (when I was in desparate need of some greasy comfort food) and they had no chicken ... I consider this to be the same as going to CR and being told they have no cupcakes... it should NEVER happen, and if it did, they should have provided you with a free coupon for a free cupcake next visit, at least that would have made me happy as a customer. And this is exactly the forum for this type of complaint. CR is not the only small business that deserves business in this area.. nobody "deserves" business, just because they are a small business, still means they need to provide a service or product in exchange for $$. I will never understand how that place stays in business, I've been there and it has not much to offer me, and I'm not that particular, but I'm not a cupcake fan anyway, so have no idea what it would be like to go to a shop just for a cupcake. I am not a huge baked goods fan, but Alki Bakery does have the best cookies around and I sometimes will go there just for a fresh baked cookie (and a cup of coffee). CR is mediocre at best. That is my opinion, and if you don't like it, don't pay any attention to it. If CR is so great, why aren't there more supporters on here saying how wonderful they are? So far their score card ain't so good.

Posted 2 years ago #