Popular Cupcake Chain's First CT Location Opens In Norwalk

NORWALK, CT — Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery, a popular bakery franchise specializing in inventive cupcakes, recently opened its first Connecticut location in Norwalk.

Located at 12 Merwin Street in The Waypointe complex, the store held its grand opening Thursday, inviting Mayor Barbara Smyth and other local representatives to be among the first to enter the newest Smallcakes bakery.

Regina Smith, who co-owns the Norwalk location with baker Tina Davis and her husband Anthony Bannister, said it was a relief to finally see the store open and welcoming customers inside.

"It's a long process trying to get everything together and make sure you have your ducks in a row," Smith said to Patch, "but now that we're open it's been a relief and exciting at the same time."

Smith, who also operates a Smallcakes bakery in Scarsdale, N.Y., noted each Smallcakes franchise is independently owned, allowing individual owners to "do our own different thing" and bring a personal touch to the stores.

According to Smith, Norwalk proved to be a perfect fit for the franchise's first Connecticut location for a number of reasons.

"I felt as if Norwalk is a growing community," Smith said, "and when we were looking into Norwalk we were looking for places like this that has ice cream, sweets, cookies all in one, and we really couldn't find anything...so we brought it here and so far so good. We love the community, and hopefully we can help it grow."

The menu at Smallcakes features a wide variety of inventive cupcakes, including birthday cake, caramel crunch, cookies-n-cream and hot fudge sundae among others.

While the Norwalk location features the standard 12-14 flavors they offer daily, the store will also offer "spunky, spontaneous flavors" that customers likely won't find anywhere else, such as a tres leches churro cupcake, according to Smith.

"Our cupcakes are baked fresh daily and they are super moist," Smith said. "You will never have a dry cupcake here. Our motto is 'maybe a cupcake will help,' so maybe you're having a bad day or you're having a good day, try a cupcake. It's always going to make your day a little bit brighter."

The Norwalk bakery also offers custom cakes, cookies and cake pops, which customers can order for their birthdays or their office, Smith said.

"If you're looking for quality ingredients and quality cupcakes, this is the place to be," Smith said. "We really pride ourselves on first customer service and ultimately making sure that our product is very good and fresh every day."

Greater Norwalk Chamber President Shannon O'Toole Giandurco praised Smith and her team for bringing a quality product to the area.

"It's a family-owned business, which is what we love to see in Norwalk," O'Toole Giandurco said, "and they're around so many apartments and people looking for a sweet treat, something special, so now they have all these new residents ready to check out their products, and they have a nice option of products, both sweet treats and the ice cream, so they'll cater into the evening as well."

According to the company's website, Smallcakes currently operates locations in 25 states, including New York, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Illinois and California among others.

The website notes that Smallcakes "specializes in freshly baked gourmet cupcakes, as well as seasonal and featured flavors presented in a signature pink box."

The chain has appeared on seasons one, two and seven of the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars," as well as the ABC daytime talk show "The View," according to the website.

The Waypointe has seen a number of businesses both open and close in recent years.

In February, Barcelona Wine Bar closed its Norwalk location at the complex.

Last year, Sedona Taphouse closed its location at the complex.

Other businesses at the large complex include Colony Grill, Allora Coffee and Bites and more recently Elm Street Diner.