Molly’s Cupcakes is closing its Bettendorf store. The business, located at 2503 53rd Ave., will permanently close on July 31.
The business, which specializes in a wide variety of cupcakes, cookies, pies, full-sized cakes and other treats, opened last summer. Molly’s announced the closure in a Facebook post Saturday, July 13, stating the closure is because of poor sales.
“We have some sad news, friends. Things haven’t gone quite as planned here at Molly’s Cupcakes Quad Cities and we have to say goodbye. We gave it our best efforts, but the sales just weren’t there. We are so thankful for the customers we’ve had this past year. It’s been a pleasure serving you and we are so sad to be leaving. Maybe we’ll pop over with a food truck every now and then,” according to the Facebook post.
Molly’s store at 14 S. Clinton St., Iowa City, will remain open. In fact, that location will fill orders made in the Quad Cities for upcoming weddings and other events that need to be filled after July 31, the company said in its Facebook post. “Our Iowa City store will take good care of you at no extra charge,” that post adds.
Molly’s Cupcakes had its grand opening ceremony for the Bettendorf store on Aug. 10, 2023. At the event, the store’s co-owner Sierra McVietty said: “There is room to grow. … Right now, we are getting through the opening phase, and we will see what’s to come.”
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 Bettendorf 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.”)
Molly’s has about 15 locations. The business, which had its original site in Chicago, has at least five Chicago area locations, and sites in New York, Cincinnati, Iowa City, Des Moines and other locations.
