Gigi’s Cupcakes features an array of innovative baked goods, everything from candy bar crunch cupcakes to mocha cheesecakes.

After raising a family, Christine Yaccino, the owner of the shop, wanted to spread her passion for baking and found her chance in this Nashville-originated business.

Store manager Joanne Brandstrader said, “Christine Yaccino discovered Gigi’s Cupcakes when she lived in Tampa, Florida several years ago. She made it her goal to open a Gigi’s here in Illinois.”

As a franchise, the store uses the recipes of Gigi Butler, the company’s founder, in order to create a customized menu for every day.

Gigi’s Cupcakes doesn’t do conventional flavors. Instead, they focus on creating flavors to please their customers. Junior Bridget Knudson said, “They have so many unique options that change everyday. You could never go to another place and find a Pumpkin Spice Latte cupcake or at least one that is fresh and crisp.”

However, Tayyaba Ali, also a junior, had some complaints: “While they have a lot of options, the only thing I’d say is that every cupcake has an overload of frosting. It’s too sweet and takes over the cake.”

Patrick Browne, a junior and an employee, wanted to find a job as a salesman when he discovered Gigi’s.

“Everyone who works there is so nice and cooperative,” Browne said, “Plus, it’s a cupcake shop and who doesn’t love to be around cupcakes?”
Leah Krevitz, another employee, loved the concept of the business and found the ambiance exciting and festive.

“I thought it was good, well presented and conveniently packaged. I like Sprinkles or Molly’s better, but Gigi’s is a lot closer, which is nice,” junior Lily Long said.

Considering proximity, junior Meera Joshi added, “I like that they are in Edens Plaza. Whenever I am near New Trier West or getting my hair cut at Aveda, I can stop by and get a delicious cupcake.”

“We have very strict baking guidelines. Cupcakes are baked fresh every day as are our muffins and cookies. Our cakes and frostings are made from scratch just like someone would make at home. That way we are able to provide many different varieties,” Brandstrader said.

For these individual desserts, the prices tend to range anywhere from $2 to $4. The Wedding Cake cupcake, the most popular item, is priced at $3.50. The variety of stuffed cookies and cheesecakes cost $4.00. “The service was excellent, and everyone was so nice there. The prices are definitely more reasonable than some of the shops in downtown Wilmette,” Joshi said.

Gigi’s has to provide customers with top notch service in order to compete with bakeries such as Three Tarts in Northfield.

Brandstrader said, “I think people choose our business over others because we do bake fresh everyday just like people either wish they could or had the time to bake themselves.”