Empire Building

Battle of the Midwest Cupcake Chainlets

Photo: Bleeding Heart/GSChi Flickr Pool

When Phoebe’s Cupcakes burst onto the scene a few months ago, it was with expansion in mind: fueled by an investment from venture capitalist Chad Mollman, the Wrigleyville shop is built for franchised growth. Enter the competition: Michigan-based Cupcake Station has two locations in the wolverine state, and is thinking about a Chicago expansion.

“My dream is to have one in every downtown,” Cupcake Station founder Kerry Johnson told MLive.com, who report that Johnson “has his eye on Philadelphia, Chicago and other East Coast corridor cities.” For ourselves, we’re starting to experience cupcake exhaustion. With More Cupcakes, Sweet Mandy B’s, Bleeding Heart Bakery, Swirlz Cupcakes, Molly’s Cupcakes, and probably dozens of others already on the scene — plus, of course, Phoebe’s — we secretly kind of hope this is a war of attrition. [MLive]

Previously: How Many Phoebe’s Cupcakes Can You Handle?

Battle of the Midwest Cupcake Chainlets