Home › Forums › West Seattle Food › Rant- Cupcake Royale
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August 1, 2009 at 4:56 am #673477
BarbGMemberI enjoy CUPCAKE Royale, not CAFE Royale. I have never been in there when they were totally out of cupcakes, in fact about an hour or so before they close they have “happy hour” where the cupcakes are half price, and I’ve been able to get a few cupcakes during that time. And they are not the most expensive cupcakes in town. Up in Wallingford they have a $3.50 cupcake. But you know what, I don’t particularly give a crap, if I want one cupcake it is cheaper for me to buy one, than it would be to make a whole dozen.
August 1, 2009 at 6:09 am #673478
JoBParticipantBarbG..
I stand corrected again.. not a good day for the connection between my brain and my fingers…
August 1, 2009 at 9:09 am #673479
TraciMemberI second the vote for PCC cupcakes, they are DELICIOUS!!! It shouldn’t be much of a surprise since basically everything’s great there.
Cupcake Royale has lost some of its charm for me for the same reason as a lot of you. They don’t have enough cupcakes. Over five times I’ve walked in to find like ONE coconut or lavender cupcake hanging out in the case. Don’t get me wrong, I like coconut and lavender… But I can go across the street to get DOZENS of options and hassle the employees for descriptions of every chocolate variety. I like having a choice!
Cupcake Royale needs to get it together! They obviously have a devoted fanbase here or we wouldn’t even bother to care about it. I know they don’t bake here, so they need to send a runner over once more a day to get more cupcakes. Problem solved.
All that aside, if I’m aiming to spend 4 bucks on sweet deliciousness, Bakery Nouveau is my #1
August 1, 2009 at 7:36 pm #673480
PlaneGuyMemberTHE TRUTH: Here is the truth, and it will all make sense. The West Seattle Cupcake Royale DOES NOT BAKE their cupcakes there at all. They are baked at one of their sister stores and brought in to be iced there. When they are out, they’re out. There’s no replenishment ~as there is no baker on-site.
Get it? It’s a shop that ices and sells cupcakes which are made elsewhere. That is why they are constantly “low on cupcakes”. Oh yes, I agree, they are dry and overpriced. Head to Coffee to a Tea with Sugar where they BAKE and ice their baked goods, or even Willow Blue (is that what it’s called -next to Pagliacci’s??) Their cupcakes are the size of a dinner plate and are baked/iced on-site.
There. Mystery explained. I might also add that the staff at West Seattle Cupcake Royale has been less than pleasant on my limited experiences. I have taken my business elsewhere -other coffeeshops/bakeries in the West Seattle region where I feel that my business is appreciated and valued.
August 1, 2009 at 10:24 pm #673481
CaitParticipantAlso – I’m not sure of her name, but the evening barista at Coffee to a Tea (the one with the short hair and adorable outfits) is one of the best and she is always so personable. And they’re always playing the Beatles. And the decor is better. They’re a few cute/cheeky t-shirts away from taking over the whole junction in terms of cupcakes.
August 2, 2009 at 12:04 am #673482
EscondidoMemberI love this thread, it is so nice to talk about what is really important. Truly. (No sarcasm here)! It makes me smile.
(:->)
August 2, 2009 at 1:42 am #673483
pigeonmomParticipantCoffee to a Tea ALWAYS has 100 screaming kids in there when I go in. Yes, I am an old crank, I admit it. Flame away.
August 2, 2009 at 1:56 am #673484
JanSParticipanthehehe..you old crank…..;-)
August 2, 2009 at 2:50 am #673485
CaitParticipantThat’s so funny – I’ve always wondered why they have the infamous “unattended children” sign because in the 5 or 6 times I’ve been there I’ve never seen one. I go post-dinner.
August 2, 2009 at 3:06 am #673486
JoBParticipantnaptime and dinner time are mostly kid free at coffee to a tea
August 2, 2009 at 3:31 am #673487
pigeonmomParticipant*makes note to go later in the day* :-)
August 2, 2009 at 6:25 am #673488
KalHellMemberEvery 2-3 weeks or so, my wife and I go for dinner at Lee’s Asian, then walk down the end of the block for a cupcake. We stopped because the selection became fewer and fewer. Last time we went they had zero cupcakes. I don’t even want to fall in love with your product if I can’t get one. So now we don’t even try. We go to Shoofly Pie Company down the street in the other direction. Lots of good sweets there.
August 2, 2009 at 2:19 pm #673489
wilsonParticipantI went to CR two Sundays ago – very early (maybe too early) I was having a party and thought I’d just pick up some mini cupcakes…the girls were very unwelcoming when I walked in..I felt like I was interrupting them….and they had NO cupcakes in the case…said she’d ice some for me if I wanted to come back…nope..
I then went to Bakery Neveau (sp) they had a sign out front “fresh baked chocolate bread” I’m thinkin, perfecto! I go in to buy it and the girl looks at me like I’m crazy…”uh, that has to be special ordered??” As I left, I read the sign again…I guess I though “specialty” meant specialty of THAT day :) my bad.
August 4, 2009 at 1:21 pm #673490
dhgParticipantI don’t care for cupcakes but CR does better lattes than any other place in the junction. I had a problem with their service months ago (early morning, loud rockin’ music, employees ignoring the counter) I don’t go often but my impression is that the surly employees have now moved on.
August 4, 2009 at 2:48 pm #673491
KenParticipantI have my very own oven. And a supply of those little paper cup liners.
Cake mix goes on sale for .79 a box.
I make my own coffee too :)
The goal of most successful food vendors is to find a product that is inconvenient to make at home, or requires special equipment to get right.
Then offer it at a price that makes the inconvenience over rule the price. (examples: Pizza, Fried Chicken, Donuts and croissants.)
I have watched the cupcake industry with interest but have seen no indication of it creating a persistent niche in the world of profitable food.
Perhaps the location/foot traffic metric is stronger than the perceived value metric, but I am pretty sure the lack of salable product can even sink that.
We shall see.
August 4, 2009 at 3:31 pm #673492
JoBParticipantAugust 5, 2009 at 9:32 pm #673493
saneyMemberi just wanted to update. today i received an email response from the owner of cupcake royale. here is the entire email:
“I am so sorry to hear that with all your effort, you never got to try one of our Strawberry 66 cupcakes! It’s been a really unpredictable summer for us with the weather and all. We’ve had some days where we just can’t bake enough cupcakes, and some when we have to start happy hour a few hours early to clear the case! Of course, our goal is always to have cupcakes in the pastry case. We realize how terribly disappointing it is when we don’t, and we want to do whatever we can to make it up to you. I’d love to send you a free dozen cupcakes, and I highly recommend our August offering, Raspberry Lemonade. We do suggest calling ahead to order our most popular flavors, as they are always the first to sell out. I know this does not make up for the 3 sad trips you’ve already taken to our café, but I hope it can at least get you back in the door!
As well, I really really really hate running out of cupcakes! I’d rather donate a hundred a night than run out. But it does happen sometimes. Unfortunately, you’ve hit it every time w/ the Strawberry. I’m going to work with the crew in West Seattle to do their best in forecasting sales so we can avoid running out. UGH! I’m so sorry.
I’m also sorry to hear that you emailed us with no response. We make a point to get back to everybody, and that should have been the case with you as well. Please feel free to email me directly in the future, and I’ll be sure to write you back!”
i am very impressed with the response. it goes a long way to begin to build goodwill.
August 5, 2009 at 10:05 pm #673494
GenHillOneParticipantThanks for posting the update, saney. While I like a good cupcake as much as anyone, I’m not such a fan as to pre-order one, so I’m probably not their target audience, LOL.
That said, this is by far one of the strangest business models I’ve ever heard of.
August 6, 2009 at 2:39 am #673495
TammiWSMemberSeriously, order ahead? Running out? Surly employees, no parking, late email response, 3 bad experiences. What if I just want one, single, cupcake?
If your special cupcake of the month is known to run out then make more and as you say, give them away. Make it business donation write off…
I’ve gone in twice, and both times people were snobby. As if it was an inconvenience for coming into the store.
There are sooooo many cookbooks with good recipes, I’ll bake cupcakes at home.
August 6, 2009 at 1:49 pm #673496
datamuseParticipantIt is a little strange to go in at, say, 6pm and find that they are out of most kinds when they close at 8. Seems odd.
I worked in a bakery in high school (which is why, to this day, I pretty much can’t stand doughnuts) and while we did occasionally run low on stock by the end of the day (especially bread) it wasn’t a usual occurrence. Though I can understand not wanting to have leftovers, I guess.
August 6, 2009 at 2:38 pm #673497
JoBParticipantThe problems at the West Seattle Store sound like management issues… easily sorted…
August 7, 2009 at 12:10 am #673498
johnnyblegsMemberI am a pastry chef and just recently ran the pastry department of a large bakery. If you are running out of product on a consistent basis, there is a problem with how you are running the business. If this happens consistently every month on a special item, then you have a problem. Blaming it on the weather is ridiculous! When you run low in the case, you MAKE MORE! I understand not wanting to have a lot of waste, but that is easily avoidable. I blame management, or rather lack of.
August 7, 2009 at 1:49 am #673499
carterParticipantBeing a dessert addict (who indulges rarely and selectively), I decided to do a West Seattle Cupcake Tasting on my own one day. I went to Cupcake Royale, The Metropolitan Market, and Sugar Rush Bakery. The hands down winner was Sugar Rush; moist, enough creamy frosting, and flavorful. I just wish they didn’t have to keep them refrigerated :o(
August 8, 2009 at 12:15 am #673500
TacomachineMemberSugar Rush is WAY better than Cupcake Royale, it’s not even close. Royale makes a good cup of coffee…I love stumptown. But I’ll get my coffee there, then cross the street for my cupcake.
August 14, 2009 at 4:59 pm #673501
sam-cParticipantstumptown IS good Tacomachine, especially the one on 12th. but, I thought that Cupcake Royale had verite coffee. Am I confused?
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