The cupcake trend, widely attributed to "*** and the City," flourished during the recession and is now bigger than ever -- even though "*** and the City" has been off the air for SIX YEARS.
What the heck?
Employment in the restaurant and bar industry is starting to rev up again in New York City -- especially in the cupcake business, according to the Wall Street Journal's Metropolis blog.
“One segment of the industry that seems to be adding the most outlets is cupcake cafes. This could be a fad, or not,” Barbara Byrne Denham, chief economist at real-estate services firm Eastern Consolidated, wrote in a report Thursday.
From New York-based national chains like CRUMBS Bake Shop to Sprinkles Cupcakes, a popular West Coast chain, to small start-ups, cupcakes are everywhere. If you are going to a wedding this summer, you will likely see a tower of cupcakes in lieu of a cake -- a trend that was hip a few years ago but now seems as cliche as a seven-tiered layer cake.
Our theory: Not only are cupcakes a cheap way of treating yourself, they're also very nostalgic for anyone who ever attended a birthday party as a kid. And in times like these, everyone is looking for a little comfort.
Are You Sick Of The Cupcake Trend?