Cupcakes & Milkshakes to Bring Something New to Bethel

When couple Philip and Amy Martin moved to Bethel last year from Queens, they knew they had something unique to offer to the small town they fell in love with; cupcakes and milkshakes.

“We literally happened upon Bethel; literally drove through downtown, had lunch at Famous Pizza and we absolutely feel in love with the town," Amy Martin said.  “Within months of meeting everyone in town, Philip and (his brother, now business partner) Ronnie started talking about how perfect Bethel was to try an entrepreneurial venture." 

The venture, a 50s themed shop called Cupcakes & Milkshakes, will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, March 5 after a successful soft launch this past week, when lines formed out the door and past its now next-door neighbor, Famous Pizza. 

When coming up with the idea, Martin said her and her husband asked themselves “what does this town need?" and "what doesn’t this town have?”

Though with no prior professional baking experience, Martin said the cupcake idea came up, but there was also a need to make their business unique.

“It was actually my husband’s brilliant idea to add the milkshake component, which I think really differentiates us between other cupcake shops and bakeries," Martin said. "The few days we’ve been open, we've seen this as a really big driver.”

While customers can visit the shop to pick up cupcakes, the milkshake bar allows other customers to sit and enjoy their treats. Martin said since the soft launch, she's noticed that shop has become a hang out for the area high school and middle school kids.

After lots of research and experimentation at home, and working with baker Sarah Zamudio of Danbury, Cupcakes & Milkshakes now has 10 standard cupcake flavors and 20 standard milkshake flavors.

The cupcake flavors include: chocolate or vanilla with butter cream frosting, red velvet with cream cheese frosting, mint chocolate chip, cookies and cream, s’more, lemon, strawberry, café au lait, Boston cream and "Faux-stess" (their take on the classic Hostess cupcake).

Milkshakes vary from the classic to the creative, the latter Martin said have been the most popular. “The big sellers so far have been S’more, Cookie Monster, the School Yard Bully (made with Red Bull) and, my personal favorite, Tang-erine Dream, made with old school Tang," she said.

Along with the standards, Martin said Cupcakes & Milkshakes will continue to experiment with different flavors to feature either every other week or every month, as well as holiday flavors. Suggestions from customers are always welcome online or at the shop.

Individual cupcakes cost $3.50, while four and six packs run $13 and $19 respectively. Classic milkshakes are $3.95 and unique creations are $4.95. Cupcakes & Milkshakes will also sell soda, water, coffee, tea and milk. Ten cent candy is also sold, which Martin said has been a hit with kids.

Since dropping off a special resume that highlighted her passion for baking, Zamudio said she's loved her experience and feels "well-connected" to her team. “I wake up at eight, come here and love it,”  Zamudio said.

Martin, who also keeps a full-time job in New York City, said she too has developed a passion for the new business, but especially for bringing something new to the Bethel community.

"First and foremost, it was about finding something in the community that we could be involved in and bring to others," Martin said. "That was the plan from the get-go. It's really the love of this community and town that really drives us."

Children can also celebrate their birthdays decorating cupcakes or creating their special milkshake at the shop. Martin said Cupcakes & Milkshakes will also cater to parties or special take-outs, that offer smaller sizes and different prices.

Saturday’s official grand opening will include a ribbon cutting with First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker, the unveiling of new special flavor and mini milkshake and cupcake samples from 12-1 p.m. The opening will also kickoff a raffle for a 42” plasma television, where customers earn an entry for every six pack of cupcakes purchased in the month of March. The drawing for the television will take place on April 6.

Cupcakes and Milkshakes is located at 7 P.T. Barnum Square (right next to Famous Pizza) and is open Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

For more information, call Cupcakes & Milkshakes at 203-616-5329, e-mail info@cupcakesandmilkshakes.com or visit the shop online or on Facebook.