Man, after looking at this thread, and the ongoing muck in some other threads about local businesses, I've come to the conclusion that some people will complain about ANYTHING and rate that establishment on a SINGLE experience rather than giving a place an opportunity to shine.

It's no wonder it's so hard for local businesses to really do well here in the long-term.

As much as we say "we want, we want," we gritch and moan when people don't come up with perfect.

Lighten the load, folks, and if you can't, why don't you open a "new concept" yourself and see how well you do it.Agreed, good post. Some of these "pro okc" people really like to nit pick and tear down the people that are ACTUALLY making a go at it.

We took a bite of each of the cupcakes, the only one I would re-order was the chocolate peanut butter, everything else was just okay Betty Crocker tasting like I could make myself at home.



I think you may be missing the point. People go out to get ice cream when they could just buy ice cream at a store and take it home. People go out and get a smoothie when they could easily make a smoothie at home. The point is that most people go out to places so they can "go out." I'm sure if I put my mind to it, I could make the cupcakes at C&J right in my own home and maybe save a couple bucks. But that's not the point. The point is that you can go out to a new place, have a pretty good cupcake, enjoy your company and hopefully take in the nice atmosphere, all of which C&J provides. I admit that taking in the atmosphere for you was probably difficult since the place was really crowded. However, that's not C&J's fault. They can't control the fact that they are really popular, and I don't think anyone should expect them to.

You have a valid point, and I agree that is why some people go there, heck, that's why I went there that night, for the atmosphere, if I wanted a better cupcake, I knew to go to Sara Sara.

I originally went there (C&J) hoping to find the amazing gourmet cupcakes that started the whole cupcake trend in the first place though. Sara Sara is closer, but no cigar. I'm not worried about saving the couple bucks as you say, I'd rather save the time. Until you've been to a true gourmet cupcake place, I guess you can't appreciate what I'm trying to say.

Man, after looking at this thread, and the ongoing muck in some other threads about local businesses, I've come to the conclusion that some people will complain about ANYTHING and rate that establishment on a SINGLE experience rather than giving a place an opportunity to shine.

It's no wonder it's so hard for local businesses to really do well here in the long-term.

As much as we say "we want, we want," we gritch and moan when people don't come up with perfect.

Lighten the load, folks, and if you can't, why don't you open a "new concept" yourself and see how well you do it.

:congrats:

You have a valid point, and I agree that is why some people go there, heck, that's why I went there that night, for the atmosphere, if I wanted a better cupcake, I knew to go to Sara Sara.

I originally went there (C&J) hoping to find the amazing gourmet cupcakes that started the whole cupcake trend in the first place though. Sara Sara is closer, but no cigar. I'm not worried about saving the couple bucks as you say, I'd rather save the time. Until you've been to a true gourmet cupcake place, I guess you can't appreciate what I'm trying to say.

I have been to a true cupcake place...Magnolia Bakery in Greenwich. However, you might not consider it gourmet since it's on the EAST coast. Their cupcakes were over $3 each and were dry. People were lined up down the block for one.

I don't think the folks of OKC are especially looking for what you call gourmet cupcakes. I think they just appreciate having somewhere different to go for a treat and to hang out (C & J or Sara Sara) Many people I speak to are just glad that these two places have come in to help revitalize the downtown business area. They're also family owned and run businesses so I don't think they have any intention of being gourmet like your Kara's.

I look forward to reading this thread each week so I can see how many more times you will mention your gourmet cupcakes visits on the west coast! :)

I really liked their frosting, but IMO Sara's cupcake is better frosting so so.

I finally found a good gourmet cupcake at Market C, I had the hot chocolate cupcake for $2.50 and it was amazing. Hands down the best cupcake by far I've had in OKC. Very comparable to the real gourmet cupcake shops, I'd put it up there with them.

Took my wife to C&J last night for dessert on date night. She had the red velvet cuppie and I had The Don. Loved them both and definitely not "Betty Crocker" like as has been suggested by metro.

Also discovered that their coffee is very reasonably priced and quite good. Had a huge Americano that was fantastic and the wife enjoyed a frozen hot chocolate.

Great place for hanging out and conversation.

abson, difference of opinion. Have the hot chocolate cupcake at Market C or try one at a gourmet place out of state, then get back to me on how you feel about it. I never said they are bad, just not gourmet. C&J is a great hang out place, was there the other night, the same day I had one from Market C. It's great for fellowship and cheap coffee drinks. My wife loves the Frozen Hot Chocolate, as for a gourmet cupcake shop, that its not, but they are still a good snack.

Okay, metro, we get it. This isn't your most favorite place ever. Every time someone says they like the place, you come in and say it's not gourmet, or it's not as good as so-and-so's. I don't know how many times you feel you need to tell us that some other place's cupcake is better...or more "gourmet"...

And what the hell is a "gourmet" cupcake, anyway? It's a CUPCAKE. I just made some in the kitchen. They have whiskey-coffee-chocolate cream cheese frosting on top of chocolate cake. Is that gourmet because I made a fancy frosting?

I hate to hijack the thread...I haven't even been to C&J's though a lot of my students and coworkers have, and they all raved about the place. Those who have been to SaraSara said it was just SoSo. I plan to go by C&J's soon.

Okay, metro, we get it. This isn't your most favorite place ever. Every time someone says they like the place, you come in and say it's not gourmet, or it's not as good as so-and-so's. I don't know how many times you feel you need to tell us that some other place's cupcake is better...or more "gourmet"...


In defense of Metro, he was just responding to absonjourney who said that the cupcakes weren't like betty crocker as suggested by "metro". Metro was responding to him, not making a statement out of the blue.

I know, mecarr. I've read the whole thread. In fact, I do ADORE cupcakes, and I just finished one of my own creations just now. However, I just feel that a lot of this thread has been about metro's thoughts on his limited experience with the place, and how much he doesn't think of the place. Just my opinion. He has given his.

Isn't this a family business? People should remember that when walking in the door... yes it's a business but it's run by a family and right now it's a huge hit. I think it's a great sign that a new business can prosper during this economy. I hope they continue to keep people lined up for $2 cupcakes!

I know, mecarr. I've read the whole thread. In fact, I do ADORE cupcakes, and I just finished one of my own creations just now. However, I just feel that a lot of this thread has been about metro's thoughts on his limited experience with the place, and how much he doesn't think of the place. Just my opinion. He has given his.

Ditto.

Metro, you obviously have a high opinion of the west-coast shops, and they may well have fantastic cupcakes, but isn't it time to let that go and let the rest of us enjoy OKC cupcakes? Ignorance is bliss, so let us be blissful. And, when it comes to personal taste, what would you say if we went out to San Fran. and came bake and said we actually didn't enjoy them?

Rant done... sorry, we really need to stop the threadjack and let this be about C&J.

I went last night by myself (was waiting on a friend). I was thoroughly impressed. First off, the signage, while not big and bright, was classy. Parking was not an issue at all as I just used the back parking lot.

Once inside, the atmosphere lived up to the hype. It is so welcoming in there you really never want to leave. They took the whole "2nd home" approach that Starbucks attempts and made it way better. It did not have a corporate feel at all. In a way, it was like going home.

I had to wait in a small line and I observed nearly everybody in there in conversation with somebody else or reading. I think i was the only one connected to technology as I was playing around on my cell phone..

I got a vanilla skye cupcake, and it was very good. The frosting was different in a good way and I like how they give you a real plate and fork to use( i didn't need the fork). Didn't try the coffee because i do not like coffee, but nearly everyone else was ordering it so it must be halfway decent.

This place will succeed and they have a great thing going there. I highly recommend.

metro- wasn't trying to knock you, just the "betty crocker" comment. i'm sure there's a world of difference between these and the ones you talk about from the west coast.

will head to c and j's again this week during the day to try out the wi-fi and the daytime ambience.

My wife and I stopped in there early Saturday afternoon, my wife as someone who wants to open up her own bake shop someday always loves to try out new places. Now our only point of reference is the Austin area cupcake shops, so take that for what it's worth.....

They were pretty busy, she ordered vanilla/vanilla one (I don't remember the names) and I had the red velvet, the cake was good and the frostings were very good and the coffee was good. I have just been spoiled by my wife's red velvet ones from a recipe from a bakery in Fredricksburg (http://www.austin360.com/food_drink/content/food_drink/recipesearch.html?appSession=877151093557418). We would definitely go back there.

I love the brown baking cups they use. I wonder where I could get some.

Went by today on a whim. Very cute inside, very nice people behind the counter.

I ordered the Vanilla Sky and got Mid a Chocolate Rain (I think those were the names!) and I got a frozen hot chocolate.

I got the drink without whipped cream but the barista missed that. No problem--he scooped it out, the lady behind the counter and I joked with him about his epic fail. I told him I figured it would be rich enough without the cream and he said, yes, but it wouldn't be as delicious.

I had about half the drink and was done--it was SO good, I won't lie. But my lactose intolerant self can only take so much, so I passed the rest onto Mid. If I drank the whole thing I wouldn't be here posting...

The vanilla cupcake was tasty--good vanilla flavor, tender crumb on the cake, and the frosting was a nice buttercream. The little vanilla sugar sprinkles made it sparkly and gave it a nice little crunch. I shouldn't have gone in after still being full from lunch, though. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd had a lighter lunch! The outside of the cake was a little dry, but one has to remember that made from scratch cake is not always as moist as cake-mix cake.

All in all, I'll go back, most likely with a friend to talk with.

frozen. hot. chocolate. ???

i've had this at bodensee and i must say, for lack of a better term, this stuff is crack cocaine. i'll have to give cuppies a try. soon.

-M

Yes. Frozen hot chocolate. I'm not a fan of hot drinks....except green tea, and they do have hot tea, but it wasn't what I was looking for today. So the frozen hot chocolate sounded pretty tasty.

Kind of like a milkshake, but not nearly as thick. Very chocolatey. More than I could handle (should have had some lact-aid!) but a normal person could probably handle it!

this stuff is crack cocaine.

Interesting that you would use this as a frame of reference.

-- you learn something new about someone every day.

^
well... they are both quite addictive.

in hindsight, i probably shouldn't have used the 'crack cocaine' reference. the phrase is a tautology. 'crack' would have been more succint.

-M

/anyone got a spoon?

Well, I finally had a cupcake at C&J worthy of praise. They had a new cupcake they invented yesterday called the "Hawaiian." It was a vanilla bean cupcake with vanilla pudding/cool whip/coconut/ pineapple frosting with actual pieces of fresh cut pineapple. It was very good and not dry like most of their cupcakes. Next time I see this one on the shelf, I will definitely get one.

mmmm pineapple

It was very good and not dry like most of their cupcakes.

Lol, that's a backhanded compliment if I ever saw one.

Well, I finally had a cupcake at C&J worthy of praise. They had a new cupcake they invented yesterday called the "Hawaiian." It was a vanilla bean cupcake with vanilla pudding/cool whip/coconut/ pineapple frosting with actual pieces of fresh cut pineapple. It was very good and not dry like most of their cupcakes. Next time I see this one on the shelf, I will definitely get one.

I stopped by today for the first time too. I picked 2 cupcakes out and while I was there eating one I heard about the new Hawaiian one. It sounds great. The Na Na was awesome.

Went to Cuppies and Joe today after hearing rave reviews from friends. It was good, really good, but there are bakeries making better cupcakes. (eek)
Also, the staff seemed flustered and not super friendly....
The college crowd that was there might not have minded the attitude, but we did. When we sat down with our goodies, I said, "Is it just me or" and my friend finished my sentence "the girl at the front was rude?"
So, I say go try it out, I like to support local business; but I think they also need to polish up on customer service.

Went to Cuppies and Joe today after hearing rave reviews from friends. It was good, really good, but there are bakeries making better cupcakes. (eek)
Also, the staff seemed flustered and not super friendly....
The college crowd that was there might not have minded the attitude, but we did. When we sat down with our goodies, I said, "Is it just me or" and my friend finished my sentence "the girl at the front was rude?"
So, I say go try it out, I like to support local business; but I think they also need to polish up on customer service.

Maybe it was just your group :Smiley112...seriously though, the group of young ladies working there have always been über sweet on the two dozen or so occasions we've been by.

I've never met anyone rude at C&J, be it staff or other customers.

Went to Cuppies and Joe today after hearing rave reviews from friends. It was good, really good, but there are bakeries making better cupcakes. (eek)
Also, the staff seemed flustered and not super friendly....
The college crowd that was there might not have minded the attitude, but we did. When we sat down with our goodies, I said, "Is it just me or" and my friend finished my sentence "the girl at the front was rude?"
So, I say go try it out, I like to support local business; but I think they also need to polish up on customer service.

Try Sara Sara or Stella Bakes, if you're just wanting a great cupcake muchhhhhhh better cupcakes. Market C makes some mean ones too. The draw at C&J is mainly the atmosphere (cozy feel, hip college/twentysomething crowd, live music most nights).

I've never encountered any rudeness at C&J. And I think their red velvet and carrot cupcakes are amazing. Metro is the only person I know of who likes Sara Sara.

...just sayin'.

I too have never met anyone who was rude at C&J but my family and I have been there so often that they know us by name. I was disappointed with Sara Sara. The cupcakes I had there were more muffiny to me.

Metro is the only person I know of who likes Sara Sara.

The only one that likes it better, at least.

on every occasion, the staff at c&j have been nothing but pleasant to me... i've never been treated rudely. i felt sara sara acted indifferently to getting my business... they weren't rude, per se, but acted pretty cold in comparison to c&j.

as for interiors, c&j is very cozy and welcoming. sara sara's stark white interior was already looking dingy the last time i went... it's really not wearing well.

as for the cupcakes themselves... apples and oranges, in my opinion. i think they're both good in their own ways, so its hard to pick one over the other.

-M

Metro, when you're determined not to like a place, you certainly stick to your guns. Did the girls at the counter deny you a seventh cupcake when you placed your order?

:ohno:

The draw at C&J is mainly the atmosphere (cozy feel, hip college/twentysomething crowd, live music most nights).

...so really the only reason to go there to C&J's is the great welcoming atmosphere, live music...and the coffee...the cupcakes...the prices...and the excellent staff.

Metro, when you're determined not to like a place, you certainly stick to your guns. Did the girls at the counter deny you a seventh cupcake when you placed your order?

:ohno:

No I'm actually friends with one of the owners, I do like some of their cupcakes, but on average, I think Sara Sara, Stella Bakes and Market C beats them hands down, no contest. For people who don't get Sara Sara, they probably haven't visited any of the gourmet cupcake shops out of state. Regardless, this IS a FOOD REVIEW forum, am I not allowed to give my OPINION?

Certainly, you're allowed to give your opinion. But almost every time someone says they like C&J, you're on their heels telling them to go elsewhere. I'm just sayin'.

Went to Cuppies and Joe today after hearing rave reviews from friends. It was good, really good, but there are bakeries making better cupcakes. (eek)
Also, the staff seemed flustered and not super friendly....
The college crowd that was there might not have minded the attitude, but we did. When we sat down with our goodies, I said, "Is it just me or" and my friend finished my sentence "the girl at the front was rude?"
So, I say go try it out, I like to support local business; but I think they also need to polish up on customer service.
I went by on Thursday and talked with Mrs. Dief for a while. She said that for some reason Tuesday night was busier than a normal friday night and they were a little overwhelmed with all of the extra business. So, that would probably explain why someone at the counter came off as rude, they were more than likely just very flustered.

Is Cuppies and Joe still open? Every time I go there they are closed. If not, they have extremely strange hours for a "neighborhood/college" coffee shop.

My husband brought back a half dozen last week. They are open on Friday and Saturday until 11. Not sure what time they open. They are closed on Sunday and Monday so maybe you happen to go by on those days?

They open at noon...

From the Owners:

"ANNOUNCEMENT:
Dear friends and family of Cuppies~ 11.5 years ago we opened Cuppies & Joe with a desire to create a community around the table and have been so honored to see that become a reality. We have had the privilege of being a part of major milestones/events in your lives, daily studies, moments of grief, and everything in between and it is something we have never taken lightly. We have loved being a part of the local business community here and especially being a small part of the @uptown23rd revitalization. Since opening, we have seen our family grow from 5 to 16 (#16 arriving 2 weeks ago). Months ago we started thinking & praying about the future for the shop and, through many tears, we have decided it is time for us to step away to be with our children, grandchildren, aging parents, etc.
Our hope is that someone with the same heart for the community would take Cuppies, breathe new life into it and make it their own. We plan to remain open in some capacity through the month of June and hope to have some sort of goodbye at the shop to see your faces (or the unmasked part of your faces).
We will be entertaining offers through the month of June for a potential purchaser of the business. If interested, please send serious inquiries to info@cuppiesandjoe.com

We cannot thank you all enough for believing in and supporting our sweet little shop all of these years. We have been forever changed by the relationships we have built here."

Well that's disappointing to hear.

Well that's disappointing to hear.
That's too bad. My wife loves this place. It sounds like this was a bigger decision than just being hurt by the pandemic.
We wish them good luck from here!

Hopefully someone else carries the torch. I didn't personally go to this place that often but I know a lot of people did and I want to see local places like this stick around.

As a former barista at Cuppies (over a decade ago now - which is absolutely mind boggling to me) I'm very sad to see it close. However, the Diefenderfers definitely deserve a break and I'm hopeful that some like-minded people are able to continue its success. As good as the cupcakes are, I'll miss the orange brownies, Oreo cookies (especially the original recipe!), and Peggy's pies even more.

As a former barista at Cuppies (over a decade ago now - which is absolutely mind boggling to me) I'm very sad to see it close. However, the Diefenderfers definitely deserve a break and I'm hopeful that some like-minded people are able to continue its success. As good as the cupcakes are, I'll miss the orange brownies, Oreo cookies (especially the original recipe!), and Peggy's pies even more.

I miss Peggy. They are all good people.

Sad news! I wish them the best in retirement!

Has anyone tried out Cuppies since this? Thoughts?

Has anyone tried out Cuppies since this? Thoughts?

Yeah, we have, weren't too impressed with them before they retired and pretty much the same. For reference, we like Elemental and Classen.

My only thing with new owners is that you need to check their social media before going because they open and close as the please rather than set hours. I’d hate to travel there and then they are closed so make sure to check social media as they close early or completely for day pretty frequently

My only thing with new owners is that you need to check their social media before going because they open and close as the please rather than set hours. I’d hate to travel there and then they are closed so make sure to check social media as they close early or completely for day pretty frequently

That's a crappy way to run a business.

That's a crappy way to run a business.

I feel like this was super common for almost all OKC local businesses 5+ years ago. It was even worse then because none of them kept up with social media or their google business listings. My wife and I basically gave up on supporting local after so many empty treks from Yukon to the core.

I feel like this was super common for almost all OKC local businesses 5+ years ago. It was even worse then because none of them kept up with social media or their google business listings. My wife and I basically gave up on supporting local after so many empty treks from Yukon to the core.

It's gotten better since then, apparently - that's about the time we moved to Venice, and we've had very few experiences with unannounced closures around the core since then, and we go to *lots* of local places in the area bounded by 235, 44, 63rd, and Reno (almost exclusively for eating/drinking, and mostly local for retail). Weather has been the reason for most of the unannounced closures, which is understandable.

They posted on Jan 11th they were closing due to Covid, then a week later said they remain closed due to personal issues.

I believe they have yet to reopen, and this is starting to become ominous.

It seems from all indications that this business is permanently closed.