Molly’s Cupcakes: QC has new place to get sweet treats

Gaberiella Stevens was busy putting blue icing on a cake during a recent work day at the new Molly’s Cupcakes store at 2503 53rd Ave., Bettendorf. “I’m loving this. I love this job,” said Ms. Stevens, the executive pastry chef at Molly’s, which opened for business on Thursday, Aug. 10, in a retail shopping building […]

Gaberiella Stevens was busy putting blue icing on a cake during a recent work day at the new Molly’s Cupcakes store at 2503 53rd Ave., Bettendorf. “I’m loving this. I love this job,” said Ms. Stevens, the executive pastry chef at Molly’s, which opened for business on Thursday, Aug. 10, in a retail shopping building near the ultra-busy 53rd Street.

Molly’s Cupcakes, which specializes in a wide variety of cupcakes, cookies, pies and full-sized cakes, has been in the planning stages for the Bettendorf site since this spring. Jamie Skinner, owner of Molly’s Cupcakes in Iowa City, is the co-owner of the new Bettendorf site. Sierra McVietty is the other co-owner of the new business. Ms. McVietty told the QCBJ recently that the new Molly’s is off to a fast start and getting many new customers. “Each night, we’re close to selling out. … The first day we were open, we sold out (of cupcakes) really quickly. That’s a great problem to have,” she added. Some of the best-selling items in the store include cookie monster cupcakes, creme brulee and peach cobbler cupcakes.  In addition to cupcakes, Molly’s also features cheesecakes, other full-sized cakes and pies. (The store requires a 48-hour notice to make many of those non-cupcake offerings. Molly’s Cupcakes’ telephone number is (563) 526-8617.) During a recent visit to Molly’s, customers also were ordering cupcakes with names like chocolate decadence, coconut caramel crunch, key lime and mixed berry. Getting all those cupcakes to customers takes a team effort from the new store’s 18 employees. That’s especially true since the new business is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. But it takes a lot of after-hours work to make sure Molly’s has all those cupcakes and other treats for its customers. Ms. McVietty said that her employees include overnight bakers who come in at 8 p.m. and work until midnight or the early morning hours in order to get the cupcakes ready for the morning rush.

“There’s a lot that goes into this. … As soon as we open in the mornings, we have people at the door looking for cupcakes,” she added. In addition to the sweet treats, many of the customers like the interior look of the new business. Molly’s Cupcakes has the look of a fun classroom with swings in the seating area, lunch boxes displayed on the walls and a big chalkboard. The art on the chalkboard is dominated by the phrase “E=MC2.” In this instance, that phrase stands for “Eat Molly’s Cupcakes.” Molly’s was founded by John Nicolaides in 2007 and named after one of his grade-school teachers. In fact, one of the signs in the business states: “Molly was my third grade teacher. Whenever one of her students had a birthday, she made cupcakes. In honor of Molly, we donate part of our profits to help local schools.” (The sign is signed “Johnny, chief egg cracker and founder.”) Ms. McVietty said there might be plans to add a few more employees in the coming weeks. She also hopes to have a grand opening ceremony in about two weeks. But, for the moment, the many goals are to make great cupcakes and serve the customers. “There is room to grow. … Right now, we are getting through the opening phase, and we will see what’s to come,” she added. Molly’s has about 15 locations. The business, which had its original site in Chicago, has at least five Chicago area locations, as well as sites in New York, Cincinnati, Iowa City, Des Moines and other locations.