LaBella Cupcakes Closes its Doors on Madison Avenue
Starting Sept. 1, the business will go back to an online only operation.
LaBella Cupcakes, the gourmet cupcake store that launched its sweet business online and expanded to a location on Madison Avenue, has closed its brick-and-mortar operation.
A “for rent” sign in the window went up this week.
The company’s website notes that the business will be closed in August, but reopening Sept. 1, “offering online ordering and delivery to your doorstep.”
That’s where it all started — online — back in early 2009.
Word of the cupcake-only business spread on Twitter. There are now almost 3,500 followers.
The LaBella Cupcakes store at 15208 Madison Avenue opened in September 2009.
The store’s owner Laura Williams couldn’t be reached for comment.
But she posted on her Twitter account that she recently had a baby, and indicated the storefront is permanent closing and the business will go back to online orders.
The store offered over 50 flavors of cupcakes, made fresh daily.
Catering for events — including weddings — is expected to continue.
Gina J.
8:09 am on Sunday, August 12, 2012
I do not mean to step on toes but the one and only time I went in to buy a cupcake for my child I was treated as an intruder by the snarkey man behind the glass counter. I knew at that moment the store was finished. In addition to an excellent product one has to treat customers with respect and gratitude and that he did not. Hopefully on line business will thrive once again for them.
Jenni Westphal Lizanich
9:14 am on Sunday, August 12, 2012
I received the same treatment when I went in there. I had heard the cupcakes were delicious, bought 2 to try, pulled out my debit card and was met with "we don't accept credit cards for under ten dollars". I assumed that if you accept cards you accept cards regardless of the quantity of cupcakes. She let me use my card "just this once". Her rude behavior kept me away even thought the cupcakes were amazing!!! Hopefully her online business will thrive.
Krystal Manning
1:57 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
Wow, I honestly never knew that this place was opened. The few times that I stopped at Elmwood bakery it seemed to me that they were closed.
JC
9:06 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
yeah, I didn't even know about this business at all. Though I have to admit, the whole "cupcake store" craze baffles me to begin with.
Laura Williams
5:32 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
@Jenni - this is Laura Williams the owner. It is against our credit card company's federal regulations to deny anyone the use of their credit card for any amount. We have never denied anyone the use of their card for any amount. I'm guessing it must have been someplace else that you visited because customers come in all the time during happy hour and use their credit or debit card to charge $1.50.
Paula Reed
10:17 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
My visits to LaBella were most pleasant--loved Laura's descriptions of the cupcakes and her passion for her product, but not nearly as much as I loved eating them and giving them as gifts! I will definitely miss the shop.
Jenni Westphal Lizanich
7:13 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
@Laura,
I didn't say you didn't let me use my card. And it was most definitely your shop. A friend of mine sent me there because she said your cupcakes were top notch, and they were for sure! It was the customer service and the "I'll let you use your card THIS time" that kept me away. I know that federal regulations require you to take cards for any amount which is why I no longer shop at stores who require a minimum purchase. The woman behind your counter on the day I was there said she would let it slide this once, I was only buying two cupcakes.
Jesse
11:00 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
The first rule of business is that you have to be open if you want to sell something! I tried visiting this business on multiple occasions and each time it was closed. This seems to be a recurring problem for Lakewood storefront shops.
Laura Williams
12:41 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
@Paula Thank you so much for your patronage! We will miss seeing our "regulars" & appreciate the support we received from the community after being open almost 2 years on Madison. Wow! How time flew.
Cindy Marx
1:39 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
The best cupcakes ever! Sorry to see the store close but happy to hear delivery available through online ordering. How wonderful, Laura, that you will be able to continue to serve your clients while taking care of babies! Hooray for your entrepenurial spirit and your commitment to keeping your business in Lakewood!
Laura Williams
3:40 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Thanks Cindy! You've been a great customer and we appreciate your support & the referrals you've given us. We are looking forward to returning to delivery in a fuller capacity like we did when we launched back in 2009. I really enjoy delivering and seeing the smiles on our customers faces :-)
M-F Schreiber
4:55 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Another MAMA business shutters. This is becoming a trend this summer.
Congrats on your new baby! Much success returning to your online business.
I may someday get the opportunity to try your cupcakes.
Elizabeth
11:42 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
It's too bad this store didn't survive. The cupcakes were some of the best!
Unfortunately I won't be getting them now because I refuse to order a dozen or half dozen and pay for delivery.
Laura Williams
8:58 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012
@Elizabeth - thank you very much for your support while we were open on Madison. We sincerely understand that not everyone will be able to order for delivery, but we do want everyone to know how much we appreciated the support we received while we were open in Lakewood. Even if it was the occasional customer who stopped in for a cupcake every now and then, every customer was important to us and we are happy to be able to continue serving delicious cupcakes via delivery. And who knows....maybe somewhere down the line you'll see us popping up in a new storefront. We'll just have to wait and see!