Sugardarlings Cupcake Bakery Opens Shop in Palm Harbor

After scouting locations for her new shop, negotiating rent and overcoming obstacles, Jessica Beebe has finally opened the doors of a new  in the East Lake neighborhood of Palm Harbor.

As of Monday, Oct. 17, the beloved West Pasco cupcake shop is now a chain.

Beebe signed the lease on June 15 at 4966 Ridgemoor Blvd in Palm Harbor.

But the space wasn’t set up for second-generation food use. She had to build in a three-compartment sink, a handwashing sink, grease traps and floor drains to comply with building codes.

“For the future, I will always make sure that I’m going into a little coffee shop that went out of business or something,” Beebe said.

Beebe opened the first Sugardarlings in New Port Richey in February, 2010. Her business quickly picked up, and she quit her full-time job to bake cupcakes for the store, make custom orders and scoop out ice cream.

“I thank everybody greatly because, without all their word of mouth, I would not have such a successful business,” Beebe said. “I don’t really advertise. It’s all just people eating my delicious cupcakes and telling somebody who tells somebody who tells somebody else.”

Earlier this year,  Though she didn’t land a spot, despite an entry that used tantalizing servings of the term "mouthgasm," her spunk and talent has not gone unnoticed.

Beebe said that on her first day at her Palm Harbor shop, the store only fell $50 short of what she made in her shop in her Pasco shop that same day.

The Palm Harbor rent is triple the amount that she pays in West Pasco, Beebe said, but she already has a following in the area. Her first custom order for a birthday party was picked up recently, and one for a baby shower goes out tomorrow.

Local celebrities like Ann Kelly from the Magic Morning Show 94.9 are even taking note, Beebe said.

“I’m so lucky that everyone just loves my little love muffins,” Beebe said.

What makes her happiest though, is being able to employ others. Her sister will manage the Palm Harbor store with two other employees under her wing.

“I’m happy that I can give people jobs,” Beebe said. “I’m so happy I can hire people and give them work.”

You can also still visit Sugardarlings' West Pasco location which, although outside the city, has an address of 8511 Old County Road 54, New Port Richey, FL 34653-6420.

Where do you think Sugardarlings should expand to next?