# Cupcake fad is crashing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736 "2014-07-10T01:07:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/21 "2014-07-10T02:25:17Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Supposedly Crumbs went out of business because of poor management and not because they couldn’t sell enough cupcakes. Supposedly Crumbs went out of business because they couldn’t make any money. What does your source suggest that Crumbs’ management should have done? ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/22 "2014-07-10T02:29:48Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m curious, how crowded are your cupcake shops? Lots of customers, lot of choices? Do they sell other baked goods? 20 or so regular flavors, half a dozen gluten free flavors, same number of cake pops. I’m usually the only one that eats them there, but in the 10 minutes or so I savor one, at least half a dozen people are in and out. Of course, I almost always only go at the end of the workday is it’s probably a bit more populated than usual. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/23 "2014-07-10T02:48:32Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Supposedly Crumbs went out of business because they couldn’t make any money. What does your source suggest that Crumbs’ management should have done? Looking back at it what I wrote was kind of silly. Obviously Crumbs couldn’t sell enough cupcakes and that’s why they went out of business. Most business that go under fail because they don’t attract enough customers to pay the bills. But why did Crumbs fail to sell enough cupcakes? Partly because the management of Crumbs failed to adapt to a changing retail environment with the increased competition for the cupcake consuming customer. They tried to introduce salads to their locations, but, seriously, who the hell goes to a pastry shop for a salad? Maybe management should have diversified the products they offered. Places like Dunkin’ Donuts certainly don’t have trouble selling stuff. Maybe part of the problem was one quality. They had a partnership with Starbucks to sell Crumb’s products alongside coffee but customers were dissatisfied with the product. Edit: I guess what I’m getting at is that it might not be the cupcake fad that’s crashing. It’s just that Crumbs made some bad management decisions that led to them going out of business. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/24 "2014-07-10T02:54:27Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > the firm is reorganizing. > > coming soon > > Muffins And the ultra-specialized [Sandvich](http://youtu.be/aYAGB11YrSs) shop! they only sell that one style"[Edible Device"](http://youtu.be/tMfzUZNXRbE) ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/25 "2014-07-10T03:02:13Z")
Cupcakes to beyond retail. In DC, Georgetown Cupcakes have been the “it” thing to have at both corporate and social events. They also do good business as gifts, and are given in some sets much like flowers. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/26 "2014-07-10T03:02:47Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > And once the blow dry bar thing passes, all will be right again with the world. Oh. Blow _dry_ bar. Well, _that_ was a major disappointment. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/27 "2014-07-10T03:04:53Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > …half a dozen gluten free flavors… And that right there is my vote for the next fad to disappear. There aren’t enough actual celiacs in the world to sustain it, and eventually all the folks with the imaginary gluten sensitivities and allergies will move on to the next weird food fad. All of these companies making gluten-free stuff will vanish overnight. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/28 "2014-07-10T03:05:52Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Cupcakes to beyond retail. In DC, Georgetown Cupcakes have been the “it” thing to have at both corporate and social events. They also do good business as gifts, and are given in some sets much like flowers. I should note this isn’t some permanent situation. Having a food truck come to your event seems to be the new it thing. And no doubt something new will come about soon. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/29 "2014-07-10T03:09:26Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Oh. Blow _dry_ bar. > > Well, _that_ was a major disappointment. I thought it was made up. There’s even one in my neighborhood. What the hell? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/30 "2014-07-10T03:20:52Z")
There had been \*\*three \*\*all within a mile of my apartment which have all closed recently. There are still 13 in Manhattan alone. I really liked the brownie cupcake. Sometimes they had a certain flavor on sale for a week for just $2.75. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/31 "2014-07-10T03:29:03Z")
I do think the huge cupcakes were kind of missing the point. Bakeries already have a product that fills the “I want something like a cupcake, only bigger” niche… it’s called _cake_. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/32 "2014-07-10T03:33:22Z")
Honestly, this is kind of like those places where you could go in and make/par-cook a weeks worth of “quality” meals all at once and take them home to freeze and finish off quickly the rest of the week. It’s not a completely unreasonable idea, but once someone has some success with one, they suddenly spring up like weeds until most, if not all of them, collapse. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/33 "2014-07-10T03:36:43Z")
Cupcakes are alright. It’s not that surprising that a business that focuses on one faddish food went under once the craze started to recede, but it’s not like all cupcakes suck. The ones at Magnolia Bakery are delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/34 "2014-07-10T03:43:24Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Cupcakes are alright. It’s not that surprising that a business that focuses on one faddish food went under once the craze started to recede, but it’s not like all cupcakes suck. The ones at Magnolia Bakery are delicious. My favorites are the ones at Sugar Sweet Sunshine in the LES. Cheaper than Magnolia too, $2 each. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/35 "2014-07-10T03:55:58Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > I do think the huge cupcakes were kind of missing the point. Bakeries already have a product that fills the “I want something like a cupcake, only bigger” niche… it’s called _cake_. But it’s sounds less piggish if you only have one cupcake rather than one cake. No one needs to know they’re nearly the same size. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/36 "2014-07-10T03:56:13Z")
Wonder how long till the glut of those self serve yogurt places start to go under? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/37 "2014-07-10T04:00:46Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Wonder how long till the glut of those self serve yogurt places start to go under? Oh yes. And also those “combine obscure fruit/vegetables into a disgusting looking and tasting drink” places. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/38 "2014-07-10T04:05:45Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > I don’t see what’s so bewildering. Cupcakes are tasty. (Good ones, not the overly-sugary, artificial-flavored crap that only kids like.) They remind people of their youth. In your country, but there have been cupcake and macaron places popping up in Italy or Spain, all trying to outsell each other and generally looking pretty deserted; I remember one time at work (about 10 months ago) someone was very excited because she’s learned to make _kupkéiks_ and was going to bring some and you’ll see, they’re great! Next day she brings over a tray and the response was along the lines of “ok, so these _kupkéik_ things, they’re small _madalenas_ covered in colored frosting and with too much sugar? What’s wrong with _madalenas_ now?”. Good stores to go get tea balls or fancy-shaped ice trays, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/39 "2014-07-10T04:33:26Z")
The problem is, no one knows how to eat a cupcake [properly](http://www.memecenter.com/fun/1697787/how-to-eat-a-cupcake-properly-mind-blown/). _noms_ ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2014, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736/40 "2014-07-10T06:14:47Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > I don’t see what’s so bewildering. Cupcakes are tasty. (Good ones, not the overly-sugary, artificial-flavored crap that only kids like.) They remind people of their youth. Now you can get them in lots of interesting flavors. What’s not to like? What’s not to like? _ **Cupcakes are a stupid way to serve cake** _, that’s what’s not to like. The cake is attached to a piece of paper that you have to pull off, (causing half of the thing to fall apart onto the ground), so it gets all over your hands anyway, and makes the whole thing pointless. You were better off using a plate and fork all along. For this reason, _ **cupcakes are one of the most annoying things mankind has ever invented** _.\* \*Muffins would achieve the same annoyance, but they are structurally somewhat more sound, (and they don’t have bad frosting to cause a mess). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cupcake-fad-is-crashing/692736.md?page=3)