Cupcakes for Old Pena's Bodega

It seems an outpost of Little Cupcake Shop is planning to open up on the corner of St. Marks and Vanderbilt that used to be Pena's bodega, come springtime.

https://twitter.com/marioleonardi_/status/394645257046220800

Good catch Maggie!

Fancy cupcakes!

http://littlecupcakebakeshop.com/locations.html

OMG…..Ample Hills on one corner, cupcakes on the other. Can a Vanderbilt Ave, outpost of Weight Watchers be far behind?

Nov 8:

We beat Brownstoner by 3 days

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/11/bodega-on-vanderbilt-will-become-a-cupcake-shop/#comments

PS 9 beats Brownstoner by almost 2 weeks!

https://twitter.com/PS9BklynPTO/status/394643794898853888

Who knew that PS9 had the scoop?

PS 9 parents are connoisseurs of the local!

(and we thank you kindly for the softball!)

I suspect only people with children subscribe to the PS9 twitterfeed.

This suspicion briefly caused me to consider having a child, but I will instead count on you to watch it closely and repost it on Brooklynian.

press re: the real estate transaction

http://commercialobserver.com/2013/11/little-cupcake-bakeshop-bites-into-prospect-heights-lease/

Workers are stripping the inside down to the studs today.

They're making quick work in there!

Plywood is now up in front of the storefront. Facade work = finishing touches?

The past:

photo credit:   http://www.iloveoldny.com/2011/08/penas-food-market-prospect-heights.html

The present:

the space inside is still completely empty so theyve got a few more weeks still methinks

mehopes they have a solid business plan,  one that is not based on a fad.

Crumbs had no such plan.

http://www.businessinsider.com/crumbs-bake-shop-is-closing-all-of-its-stores-2014-7

I was going to write something snarky about how their business plan better be to become the ample hill of cupcakes or they are going to fail, but then I checked them out...

and they actually seem pretty cool.  Sustainable cupcakes with an iconic city presents. Here is a picture of Shepard Fairey painting their Soho exterior.  Shepard Fairey paints mural at LCB Prince Street.  If Shepard makes a trip to Vanderbilt, I will be delighted to welcome this shop I will likely never enter. 

Has anyone had a chance to look in on their construction progress, when they have the plywood door open?

haven't seen the inside but they put up an awesome mural on their plywood fence:

Almost ready:

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2014/11/little-cupcake-bake-shop-opening-in-prospect-heights/

they opened today. looks nice inside, about 10 seats, lots of different dessert options, coffee. i got a slice of banana nutella cake, $6.

STICKY BUN!

I wish all (well, mostly all) businesses in our neighborhood the best of luck.  However, for the life of me, I can't figure out how someone would look at Vanderbilt Ave and think that this is the business that was lacking in the area.

Sweets are that's left when you have a community board that beats down anything that wants to stay open past nightfall  

just curious what you guys think we're lacking in the area that would realistically have fit into that space.   in the last 18 months there has been a pretty decent variety of new things opening on Vanderbilt.  kids toys, bar/restaurants, barber shop, wine shop...you think we can't sustain two bakeries?

ps, went there this morning, it was crowded.  the muffins were great, however the coffee left something to be desired.

 

Welllll, I think if you compared the stretch of vanderbilt to an equally traversed stretch of Smith, Bedford, Fulton, Franklyn, Washington, 4th, 5th, 7th etc, I think you would find we're on the low end when it comes to places for adults to hang out in.  

I know there is a handful of bars to cite on Vanderbilt, but they're old and un-enticing.  Their draw is weak.  Most any night life seekers I know around here find a different drag to spend their evenings bopping around.

I think this bakery will do very well. People will use it for small, upscale events.

It has a niche.