Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
#1Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 1:30am
Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
July 11, 2007
The renowned West Village cupcake haven Magnolia Bakery was temporarily closed by the Health Department Wednesday.
The sweet spot, known for its long lines, was cited for mouse droppings and fruit flies near the garbage.
Health officials also say there was not a sink in the area where the cupcakes are iced and a door handle was missing.
Some patrons of the bakery told NY1 they are disappointed.
"Well, right now I'm borderline devastated,” said one patron. “You see, I'm a cupcake king, I come to Magnolia on a regular. As you well know, not only are they are a New York landmark, but they're very famous for being highlighted on “Sex and City."
"It's been a very trying and difficult day,” said Magnolia Bakery owner Steve Abrams. “We've had an enormous amount of support from the neighborhood and people elsewhere."
The bakery, which is undergoing new ownership, is expected to re-open once the new sink is installed.
http://eater.com/archives/2007/07/breaking_magnol.php
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#2re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 2:41am
Mouse droppings, mmmm. So that's what those weird looking garnishes on my pink frosted cupcakes were. I thought they were a little too discolored to be daisies made out of royal icing anyway.
I make better cupcakes than those guys. A person armed with a box of Duncan Heines yellow cake, a can of frosting, and a couple tubes of food coloring can make better cupcakes than those guys. They're so overated.
#2re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 8:06amcompletely agree... i thought their cupcakes were gross...
#3re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 8:54am
And yet, there's a line going around the corner outside there every day, all day and night. Shows you what hype can do.....
I love their cupcakes, but the best thing they have is the banana pudding.
Most of the pieces of cake I've gotten from there were dry.
#4re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:10amIf y'all don't think that EVERY food establishment has this problem at one time or another you need to think again.
#5re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:17amSo right-I think they were inspected because of change of ownership.
#6re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:59am
Yup, SOMMS. I used to read the health department Web site and get skeeved out about how every place I frequent seemed to be borderline acceptable.
But then I thought: If I made it a point to eat at places that have never had evidence of roach or rodent activity, then I couldn't even eat food I cooked in my own kitchen.
That being said, those cupcakes were nothing special to me.
#7re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:44am
All NYC restaurants should have to post their health ratings in the front window like they do in LA.
I never understood the hype surrounding Magnolia. I went there a few times, and there was always something about it that I didn't think was great. The icing was very crusty one time, the cake was dry another time. etc. Their cupcakes are NO better than the cupcakes at any other little bakery in nyc. I do like Crumbs, however.
#8re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:52am
What I don't get is how they're getting a citation for the sink. Weren't the original owners inspected?
When I lived in NYC, I used to work at one of the top bakeries there (not too long, the owner had to be one of the nastiest people I have ever worked for). I always saw evidence of mice and mentioned it to him, and he seemed to shrug it off. Needless to say, I left shortly thereafter and never bought anything there ever again.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#9re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:34pmTry Billy's on 9th Avenue! Their cupcakes are yummy!
#10re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:36pm
I'm a big Buttercup Cake Co. fan...Magnolia's has always been just horrid, I think. Tres overhyped.
Damn you, Carrie Bradshaw. Damn you.
#11re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 12:43pm
All NYC restaurants should have to post their health ratings in the front window like they do in LA.
See, and I used to think that the L.A. letter grade system was the biggest joke when I lived out there...it bugged me how there was no letter grade below C.
Or also the 10 point spread of the grades- would you rather eat at the place that had 10 points or 20 points knocked off during inspection? Doesn't matter, they're both rated 'B.'
Or also the way the grades were calculated- how, if you go to the L.A. Public Health website, you can see a sample scorecard, and see how each 'category' has 'subcategories,' so a restaurant could have all 6 or 10 or however many 'subcategories' wrong, and yet receive the same deduction as the restaurant that only had one 'subcategory' wrong, as each 'category' is worth the same number of points no matter how many 'subcategories' within it are checked.
As a consumer, the whole thing just reeked of Health Dept window dressing- see, lookit what a good job our inspectors are doing, just look at all of these A and B rated restaurants!
L.A. Public Health website- retail food inspection guide.
#12re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:36pm
"Try Billy's on 9th Avenue! Their cupcakes are yummy!"
But isn't Billy the one who used to work at Magnolia, and is using their recipes in his bakery?
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#13re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:44pm
"I make better cupcakes than those guys. A person armed with a box of Duncan Heines yellow cake, a can of frosting, and a couple tubes of food coloring can make better cupcakes than those guys. They're so overated."
Driest. Cupcake. EVER.
The only reason they have stayed open was because they were hyped on Sex & the City and everyone think that if Carrie and the girls go there, they should too.
#14re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:48pm
Amen, honey. It felt like I was snorting a paper cup full of damp sawdust held together with powdered sugar and colored Crisco.
I'm tellin' you...Buttercup Cake Co, yo.
Or come on'a my house, my house'a come on if you want some REALLY good cupcakes.
("My cupcakes are moist and delicious. Men LOVE my cupcakes!")
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#15re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:52pm
Now, now.
I've been going to Magnolia since before SATC aired, and there were always lines (on weekends, at least). And I've enjoyed the cupcakes I've had from there. Strangely, though, I was not a fan of their regular cakes.
I do, however, agree that Buttercup Bakery in the 50's on 2nd Ave. is better. It's a better, cleaner space. The people are very friendly. And they can make you a cake in no time. I tried to get a Magnolia cake for my friend's 30th, and was told rudely that I needed to order two weeks in advance and they couldn't help me. I went to Buttercup and apologetically asked if they could get it done in three days time, and they didn't bat an eyelash. And the cake was f*cking fabulous.
#16re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:54pm
Seeryusly, yo.
My birthday cake last year was a red velvet from Buttercup, and it was orgasmic. So moist and rich and delicious and, oh! *swoon*
#17re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:57pmGet a clue, Jaily! Men would rather pay for cupcakes!
#18re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:57pmYou're just jealous because YOUR cupcakes are DRY AND TASTELESS!
#19re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 3:58pmDo you realize that Buttercup is owned by one of the former owner's of Magnolia Bakery? The Magnolia partnership split a few years ago.
#20re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:01pmLooks like he hired the right bakers, then...because their goods taste NOTHING like Magnolia's! (thank god)
#21re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:02pm
I think that was Billy's, Dottie.
Robbie's right. I live about 4 blocks from Magnolia. There have been lines there ever since it opened. It's because they use lots of natural ingredients, butter and sugar, lol.
I'm sorry but their cupcakes aren't dry-it's their regular cakes that are dry. My favorite was always the red velvet, but theirs is dry. DRY I TELL 'YA!
Bottom line-get the banana pudding. You won't be sorry.
#22re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:03pmI'll have to try them out next visit to NYC.
#23re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:04pm
Does it have 'nilla wafers in it? 
#24re: Magnolia Bakery Temporarily Closed By Health Department
Posted: 7/12/07 at 4:17pm
Jane2, Billy used to work there but was not an owner. He opened his place before the Magnolia partnership split.
The NY Times had an article a year or two ago about the split.
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