• Allison Miles •
• Originally published March 12, 2010 at midnight, updated March 15, 2010 at 10:29 a.m.

• Yummy Finds in a nutshell

  Opened: Nov. 27, 2009

  Owner: Teresa Cordova

  Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

  Address: 402 Salem Road

  Phone: 361-485-2285

  Did you know ... ? Facts about cupcakes:

  Cupcakes came to the ...

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Yummy Finds in a nutshell

Opened: Nov. 27, 2009

Owner: Teresa Cordova

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Address: 402 Salem Road

Phone: 361-485-2285

Did you know ... ? Facts about cupcakes:

Cupcakes came to the United States in the 19th century.

The name has two different origins. One says it came from the ingredients - a cup of flour, a cup of sugar, etc. The other attributes the name to the fact that the original cupcakes were baked in cups. Both have historical evidence to back them up.

Cupcakes now have whole bakeries dedicated to them, but some go a step further and offer "frosting shots." The customer gets just that - a dollop of icing in a small cup.

Sources: http://www.foodtimeline.org, http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/spring07/ayers/index.html, The Associated Press

What do you get when you take two parts antique store, one part gift shop, and sprinkle in some sugary treats?

A recipe for success, if one Victoria business gets its way.

Yummy Finds opened its doors Nov. 27 at 402 Salem Road, offering Crossroads residents a place to purchase everything from baby items to jewelry and freshly-baked cupcakes.

The concept just sort of evolved, said Julie Cordova, who works at the shop but didn't have an exact title.

She and her mother, owner Teresa Cordova, have always loved "dumpster diving," finding interesting items at garage sales, estate sales and shops. A retail shop was the perfect fit, Cordova said.

"The idea was to make cupcakes for the customers so they could have a little dessert while they were here," the self-proclaimed antiques lover said. "But it's grown to where we need help."

So, the company hired a staff - there are about five people in all - and expanded its selection.

It now boasts a variety of flavors, ranging from traditional vanilla to mocha and even a blend topped with peanut butter cups. The cakes come in three sizes, miniature "Cuties," medium-sized "Yummies" and jumbo "Yummos."

Courtney Figuerova works at the shop and said she bakes about 600 cupcakes per week. Although she'd never heard of a "cupcakery" before meeting the Cordovas, she said she believes it's a concept Victoria will latch onto.

"We're trying to bring the community something different, something unique," she said. "It's exciting."

Cupcakes have caught on nationwide, said Cordova, who added she scoped out Austin cupcakeries before Yummy Finds opened.

"Everybody can relate to wanting sweets," she said, perched on a small chair near the counter.

The craze originated with Sprinkles Cupcakes, a Beverly Hills-based company that specialized in the handheld treats, said Tom Halepaska, who co-owns Halepaska's Bakery in Victoria. Sprinkles offered a variety of flavors and icings and used expensive boxes to wrap up the goodies.

At Sprinkles' beginning, the company charged $3 or $4 per cake when others were charging 40 cents, he said, but the cakes became a status symbol.

"It was something novel, something different," said Halepaska, who sat on the National Retail Bakers of America's board for 12 years. "The craze generated across the U.S. and we were even doing cupcake wedding cakes."

The treat is still popular but, nationally, is likely on the back side of the popularity curve, he said. Bakers saw similar trends with bagels, bran muffins and the like.

"It's still a good mover here," he said of the cupcake. "But I've seen the cycle so many times I know when it's happening."

Whether or not the trend is fading nationally, Cordova said she believes it's catching on in Victoria. It took people a while to understand the concept, she admitted, but now the business sees its share of repeat customers.

Michelle Bickford frequents the shop and said she gives cupcakes for baby shower gifts, thank-you presents and other occasions. On March 10, her daughter was home from college and recovering from surgery, so the treat seemed like a nice pick-me-up.

"Cupcakes just make you happy," the Victoria graduate student said as she stood in line. "And they're all yummy. So far I haven't had one I didn't like."

Other cupcake addicts filtered in, some perusing the old-fashioned offerings and others joking they would have been better off if they'd never found the shop.

But it isn't just the ladies coming in for a sweet treat.

"You'd be surprised," Cordova said. "We see lots of manly men coming in here. Everybody likes cupcakes."

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