Buttercream offers cupcakes, coffee and comfort in Poway

By Emily Sorensen

In the mood for a sweet treat? Then swing by Buttercream, a new bakery and coffee shop in Poway.

Buttercream, newly opened on Aug. 1, is more than cupcakes, offering a wide variety of baked goods, as well as coffee, tea and Italian sodas, as well as a comfortable place to relax, spend time with friends, or study.

Co-owned by former coworkers Jeanette Eddery and Kat Jackson, the new store is more than a business for the friends, but a fight against the expectations of retirement. “Life isn’t over just because your industry says you’re too old,” said Eddery. “We’re out to prove everyone wrong. Just because you’re 62 doesn’t mean you have to hang it up.”

Both women were formerly employed in the San Diego hospitality business, with a combined 60 years of experience in the field. When both were downsized about two years ago, Eddery, Jackson’s friend and former boss, asked Jackson to go into the cupcake business with her.

The friends are also dedicated to empowering their employees, both in learning the various aspects of running the bakery, and being able to offer ideas, including ideas for new cupcake recipes.

Eddery and Jackson took over the location of the former Hidden Deli, which provided its own set of challenges, as they weren’t allowed to remodel the space. “So we do our baking in the front of house,” said Jackson. “Everything smells really good [in the store].” The duo also redecorated, painting the walls and making it more “homey and comfortable,” said Jackson.

Buttercream has a repertoire of 70 different cupcake recipes, with a daily lineup of certain cupcakes, so a customer can always find something different. The cupcakes, which are all filled and oversized, include vanilla with vanilla mousse filling and vanilla buttercream frosting, a chocolate-chocolate-chocolate, lime coconut and orange creamsicle.

“[All baked goods] are made in small batches, two to three dozen at a time,” said Jackson. “We don’t save anything overnight. Everything is made from scratch everyday.” In addition to cupcakes, Buttercream sells cookies, cannoli, cheesecake and “crownies,” which are brownies with toppings, like caramel and nuts.

Jackson also said Buttercream is looking into expanding into breakfast and lunch “cupwiches,” or “lunch in a cup,” like a cupcake with a corn bread base and chili filling.

Need to wash down that cupcake? Buttercream also has an espresso machine, and offers a wide variety of blended, iced and regular coffee drinks, made with San Diego-roasted coffee beans from West Bean. The store also offers tea and a range of Italian soda and Italian cream soda flavors. Bring your laptop and textbooks, because Buttercream offers wi-fi, so you can hold a study session while enjoying a coffee and baked good.

In the future, Eddery and Jackson said they hope to expand their store into a line of stores over the next five to six years, with the goal of opening one per year.

“We love what we’re doing,” said Eddery. “We come from a background of serving people, and making their dreams come true. We want to give our customers personalized service. We want everyone to come in and spend time here.”

Buttercream, located at 13624 Poway Road, is open 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday, and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday. After Labor Day, Buttercream plans to be open on Sunday. For information, call 858-513-9399.