Rant/Business/Cupcake Places

[Townsend]

Also, a friend and I had breakfast at the Gatsby Grill inside Gardners Books this morning.  We had ginormous omelets, outstanding hash browns, and French toast made from real Frenchmen - not the cheap imported ones!  I'm stuffed.  A nap is in order.

Thanks for the reminder.  I've meant to try that place out since I read the review in the paper.

[Ed W]

Thanks for the reminder.  I've meant to try that place out since I read the review in the paper.

Here's this morning's breakfast.  I'm still stuffed.

[dbacks fan]

Here's this morning's breakfast.  I'm still stuffed.

I've just added that to my list for when I get back to Tulsa.

[Conan71]

Here's this morning's breakfast.  I'm still stuffed.

I don't want to see that again.   

[stageidea]

Looks like we are getting another Cupcake business in Jenks.  Read towards the bottom of the article.



Tulsa-based franchise brands head to Mideast

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=46&articleid=20110105_46_E1_CUTLIN741187
Dixie Cream Donut Co. is expanding to Iraq, and the Tulsa area will be getting a taste of gourmet cupcakes from a reality TV baking star as growth continues at franchising company Beautiful Brands International.

Tulsa-based Beautiful Brands signed a deal with a company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to put Dixie Cream Donut Co. stores in Iraq, Syria, Qatar, Jordan and the UAE.

The deal could put 100 stores in the region and continue to expand the Beautiful Brands footprint internationally.

"Some companies are afraid of going into Iraq and other countries in the Middle East," said David Rutkauskas, president and CEO of Beautiful Brands. "But we see a lot of opportunity."

Beautiful Brands already has a Middle East presence with six Camille's Sidewalk Cafe locations in Bahrain and 12 Freshberry frozen yogurt restaurants in Saudi Arabia. Plans also call for Dixie Cream restaurants in Egypt.

The new deal is with Emirates Associated Business Group, a UAE company with primary holdings in communications, construction and real estate.

It will be the first venture into restaurants for Emirates Associated Business, but its does have a retail presence with a company that sells women's jewelry and clothing, according to its website.

The deal with the Dubai group will give the restaurant an edge on real estate deals, Rutkauskas said.

The first Dixie Cream Donut Co. location in the region could open in June, most likely in Iraq.

The potential
for stores in Syria is made possible by the recent lifting of some U.S. trade sanctions stemming from Syria's alleged ties to terrorist groups.

Dixie Cream locations in Qatar could give the doughnut chain a major presence in the oil-rich Persian Gulf country, which last month was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup of men's soccer.

Dixie Cream is owned by Tulsa-based Daylight Donut Flour Co. and marketed and franchised by Beautiful Brands, the owner of Freshberry and Camille's Sidewalk Cafe.

The first modern and only Dixie Cream store opened in Jenks in October 2009.

Meanwhile, Kansas City-based Smallcakes has joined forces with Beautiful Brands for a planned store in Jenks.

Smallcakes, owned by Jeff and Brandy Martin, has two stores in the Kansas City area with a third on the way.

Smallcakes has grown in popularity, with Jeff Martin making an appearance during the first season of "Cupcake Wars," a Food Network reality baking show. The cupcakes have also been featured on talk show "The View."

The first area Smallcakes store will likely be a co-branded location with the Jenks Freshberry frozen yogurt store, and the two companies are considering adding a co-branded location at other Freshberry or Camille's Sidewalk Cafe restaurants.

Martin was in Tulsa on Tuesday examining the setup of the Jenks location.

The bakery sells 15 kinds of cupcakes with flavors such as birthday cake, campfire smores and hot fudge sundae.

The deal calls for Beautiful Brands to market and franchise the concept.


Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=46&articleid=20110105_46_E1_CUTLIN741187

[sgrizzle]

Beautiful Brands must be doing something right other than the food. I'm guessing low franchise fees.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Cupcakes and donuts are why Merritt's Bakery exists!  Why mess with success?

[Conan71]

Beautiful Brands must be doing something right other than the food. I'm guessing low franchise fees.

No, actually if you throw enough stuff against a wall something will stick.

[DTowner]

By outward appearances, Camille's has experienced some domestic and international growth/success.  The rest of Beautiful Brands brands don't seem to have done as well.  By pushing the cupcake concept, it seems like  they've arrived at the party right before it ends.

[Conan71]

By outward appearances, Camille's has experienced some domestic and international growth/success.  The rest of Beautiful Brands brands don't seem to have done as well.  By pushing the cupcake concept, it seems like  they've arrived at the party right before it ends.

Actually numbers from the inside suggest more Camille's have closed than opened.  They never show any real growth.  There were about 80 to 100 at the time my source was laid off from BB.  Same number of operating units as there had been over the last 4-5 years.

[DTowner]

That's too bad, but not surprising. Beautiful Brands appears to be one of those local companies that the Tulsa World acts more like a PR agency than a newspaper.

[Conan71]

That's too bad, but not surprising. Beautiful Brands appears to be one of those local companies that the Tulsa World acts more like a PR agency than a newspaper.

No, the owner of BB is very good at PR.  A consummate snake oil salesman.

[zstyles]

I could name a few other companies, but hey thats America, if you can sell it people will eat it up with great PR

[DTowner]

No, the owner of BB is very good at PR.  A consummate snake oil salesman.

Nothing wrong with the owner promoting his business within reason, but the friendly treatment a select few companies have received from the local media, especially some of those with such obviously questionable business models (i.e. CFS/Bartman), does a disservice to their readers.  It would be nice if the local media asked a few tough questions about some of the local darlings before they implode (i.e. Arrow Trucking, SemGroup, et al.).

[Ihearttacos]

I have to say the best cupcakes I have ever had are from Jilly's in St. Louis. They are huge and even after 7 hours in a car they are delicious and heavanly...like no cake or cupcake before or since. They are a cupcake bar and cafe...so it's not just amazing cupcakes.