Georgetown Cupcake Company Backgrounder

The sweet and delectable Georgetown Cupcake was founded by two inseparable sisters, Kath- erine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne, in February 2008 in Washington, D.C. These vibrant and determined sisters set aside their fashion industry and private equity careers to take on a new project and passion: baking. Inspired by their Greek grandmother, the late Karol Kallinis, Kather- ine and Sophie gained a love for baking at a very young age and soon became superior bakers.

Within two years, this company has truly become a booming business. Having graduated from Marymount University in Arlington Virginia, Katherine was familiar with the D.C. area and decided the Georgetown area would be the perfect location to open up a specialty cupcake shop. Financing the shop through their life-savings as well as a small business loan, Katherine and Sophie’s dream turned into reality when they opened for business on Valentine’s Day 2008. Their first location was a small house on Potomac Street, which they converted into a shop. It did not take long for these sisters to bounce back financially and become recognized for their hot commodities. In just a short amount of time, their small family business gained more customers than the store could occupy. Because their business took off so rapidly, many days the shop would sell out of cupcakes and close early. Ever since their grand opening, the lines have wrapped around the block on a consistent, daily basis. The sisters realized that they had out- grown their small location, and in December 2009, they moved into a prime new location on the corner of 33rd and M Street, which is now their current location.

Georgetown Cupcake offers 18 different types of cupcakes daily including regular flavors, specialty flavors, and seasonal flavors. In total, the sisters have come up with nearly 100 different flavors, ranging from plain Chocolate to Hibiscus Mango and their most popular, Red Velvet cupcake with vanilla cream cheese. Customers quickly became addicted to these delectable treats and the business surely prospered. Things only went uphill from there for the sisters. After several phenomenal reviews from local newspapers and food critics, Georgetown Cupcake started receiving invitations to nationally renowned programs, such as the Today Show, the Mar- tha Stewart Show, Oprah Winfrey Show and Rachel Ray. As a result, the store’s popularity almost immediately skyrocketed. Everyone, from Congressmen and women to celebrities began waiting in line for a chance to try the famous cupcakes. The shop’s biggest break came in January 2010, when TLC decided to shoot a six-part miniseries entitled DC Cupcakes. Thanks to one customer in particular, this local business would soon be recognized nationally. The sisters credit Thomas Smith, a TLC producer, for their fame. He stumbled across the sisters’ shop during one of their busiest days and saw the hectic, but exciting atmosphere that was around the bakery and -of fered the sisters a chance to showcase it to the nation. The sisters jumped at this opportunity and before they knew it, they had landed a 6-episode trial season that aired in July 2010.

The debut of DC Cupcakes was watched by more than one million people all around the country. According to Washington Post, “This sweet enterprise has transformed into a tourist attraction.” They now had to face the challenge of serving and satisfying the new wave of customers that would soon come their way. In the bakery’s first year, they were serving close to 1,000 cupcakes a day, now they average around 5,000 cupcakes a day. The show truly captured this organized chaos and TLC shadowed the sisters, telling their story and aspects of running a small business. With fame came all of its glory including criticism which was not all pleasant. DC Cupcakes did not receive good reviews going into the debut of their show shockingly. Critics complained about the show being too similar to other food shows. One critic from the Food Magazine predicted that the show would be unsuccessful because of its similarity to other food shows. “Another show about cupcakes?...Cake Boss has already done it.”

After airing the six episodes, the show was highly successful, and TLC decided to renew it for a full second season. Despite receiving discouraging reviews and opinions during the beginning of the sister’s televised career, their consistent success has blindsided many critics and it has become one of the top rated shows shown on TLC.

Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne have always had the common goal of making people happy by doing what they love to do. Baking is only one passion that these sisters have; the other is a passion for giving. Within three months of the show airing, the sisters sought out different opportunities to give back to the community. The Hope for Henry Foundation is where they made their first charitable contribution. Georgetown Cupcake partners with area hospitals and medical clinics to benefit children suffering from life-threatening illnesses as well as their families. Georgetown Cupcakes has also sponsored the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, and is a proud partner of the Heroes Against Childhood Cancer organization, a volunteer- driven organization that supports children fighting cancer and the Cancer Programs at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.