Sophie LaMontagne, 30, and her sister Katherine Kallinis, 28, opened tiny bakery Georgetown Cupake on Valentine’s Day. Since then, word of their inventive cupcake flavors and creative garnishes has spread. It’s not uncommon to see the line outside the shop stretching around the block, or to see customers waiting outside before the bakery opens in the mornings. The sisters have just hired five employees and ordered an additional oven to try to meet the demand.
Why did you start a cupcake shop?
We just wanted to start a business together, and we both loved baking. There was a market opportunity in D.C. because there wasn’t a cupcakery here. I think it’s more of a New York – or L.A.-type thing, but we thought it would be fun.
How is it going?
We had no idea that the response would be like this. Right now, it’s 10-deep before we open the door. I think the curiosity factor is still there, but I think in a couple of months, it will normalize. We’re trying our best to meet the demand. We’re sleeping, I think, three hours a day now.
How did you come up with your recipes?
Most of them are our grandmother’s cake recipes and we just kind of modernized them. She obviously didn’t do things like key lime. We’ve been working on them for a couple of years. We got serious about this when Katherine quit her job last year and developed a business plan.
How is it working with your sister?
I think I could only do this with my sister — we can say whatever we want to each other! We’ve had a couple of cupcake meltdowns in the kitchen. It’s fun though.
Has your family come to town to see the bakery?
My mom came for the opening weekend. She actually ended up helping us the second day because we were so overwhelmed — I don’t think she expected that!
