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New York City wouldn't be the same without its tasty selection of cupcake bakeries. But there was a time when the nostalgic goodies hadn't yet made it big in the Big Apple. In fact, today's cupcake frenzy wasn't even a blip on the trend radar when founders Allysa Torey and Jennifer Appel opened the doors to Magnolia Bakery in 1996. But their selection of freshly made cupcakes, artfully displayed in a 1950s setting, soon caught the attention of customers, making this quaint bakery a hit. Magnolia Bakery also spawned a number of cupcake offshoots. In 1999, Appel ventured off to start Buttercup Bake Shop, another cupcake hit. Today, entrepreneurial-minded employees of both bakeries have followed suit, each hoping to add a unique touch and find the path to sweet success.
