Offering mouthwatering morsels in flavors such as Red Velvet, Devil’s Food Cake, German Chocolate and Meyer Lemon, Gigi’s Cupcakes Napa hopes to entice cupcake lovers one bite at a time.

Gigi’s Cupcakes is enjoying sweet success since opening on Valentine’s Day, said Laura Young,

“Business is good,” said the self-titled Chef de Cupcake, who co-owns the shop with her husband, Bill. On average, the shop sells 300 cupcakes a day and more on holidays, said Young.

Made daily from scratch, Gigi’s cupcakes are made from childhood memories and family recipes, Young said. The shop makes approximately 24 kinds of cupcakes including Carrot Cake, Mayo Cake, Hummingbird, Coconut and Tuxedo Cake. The Red Velvet is the most popular, said Young, who credits her pastry chef Carina Lopez for her baking magic.

Named after the couple’s Yorkshire Terrier, Gigi’s opened in a former candy shop near Browns Valley Market. Over a period of six months, and with the help of Young’s son-in-law Dennis Cook, a contractor, they completely remodeled the space in a classic vintage style.

The shop is decorated with black-and-white pictures of the couple’s six grandchildren, a black-and-white checkered floor, a faux vintage phone, black gramophone, pink pedal car and other pink, black and white accents.

“I always admired the way things were in the ’50s, where home and family came first,” said Young. “Being a long-time admirer of Doris Day and G-rated life… I want to capture some of those times in my shop.”

Besides cupcakes, Gigi’s sells an assortment of confectionery accessories including cupcake stands, cake tiers, tea sets, cupcake liners and carriers. One interesting accessory is a cupcake cloche, or individual cupcake stand with clear glass dome lid. In a nod to the younger crowd, Gigi’s also sells cupcake kits and baking toys. 

The store will also begin offering birthday parties, field trips, decorate-your-own-cupcake days, shaved ice in the summer, and for a smile, free gum balls.

During months of remodeling, Gigi’s faced another challenge, as Bill was diagnosed with cancer. He’s since undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, said Young. “It was kind of bittersweet” to open the shop during that difficult time, “but now that we’re open, we’re feeling good,” she said. “For me the most important thing was getting my husband on his feet and do what I envisioned doing” at Gigi’s.

Mini cupcakes cost $1.50 and regular-sized are $3.25, or $39 for a dozen. Customers seem fine with the pricing. Take Mark McGovern for example. The Fairfield-based pharmaceutical sales rep stopped by Gigi’s to tempt office workers at three different offices he’d visit that day. 

“This is what everyone loves,” he said. “Without even tasting it, I can tell you that Red Velvet will be exquisite.”

The cupcake craze seems to be catching on. Two other cupcakeries have recently opened in Napa, both downtown. While gourmet cupcakes are mostly eaten by grown-ups, “We would like to capture the smaller audience again,” wrote Young. “We’re a mom-and-pop store, and that’s the way we want to be.”

What’s the best part about owning a cupcake shop?

“The families and the kids,” said Young. Being located in family-friendly Browns Valley is perfect, she said. “We just love it here.”

“Come see us,” said Young.

“A cupcake puts a smile on your face.”

Gigi’s Cupcakes Napa

3261 Browns Valley Road

259-5353