First City gets its first cupcake shop

LuLi’s Cupcakes shop adds special flavor to downtown St. Augustine

By Caitlin Brown | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Their cupcakes bring all the boys to the yard.

Actually, their cupcakes bring anyone with a sweet tooth over to San Marco Avenue. LuLi’s Cupcakes is a brand new gourmet cupcake shop downtown.

They are next to Goldfinch Boutique on San Marco Avenue.

The charming one-month-old cupcake haven is run by Janeen Damiano Sara and Deana Welsh.

Sara and her husband, a St. John’s County Firefighter, are both graduates of Flagler College.
Welch is the former owner of Tickled Pink children’s boutique.

Sara got the idea of opening a cupcake bakery in St. Augustine after an anniversary trip to San Francisco.

She and her husband visited a gourmet cupcake shop there, and fell in love. But, why cupcakes? Why not cookies or another baked good?

“Cupcake bakeries have become all the rage lately,” Denise Sara, employee and mother-in-law of Janeen Sara, said. Cupcakeries have become a huge trend in the food service industry, especially in larger cities.

LuLi’s cupcakes are the perfect portion, and for $2.50 each, are an affordable treat for college students.

Some of their flavors include The Chocoholic, Grandma’s Coconut, Fire Engine Red Velvet and Lemon Twist.

The Godfather is a Tiramisu sponge cake with mascarpone cheese frosting and an espresso syrup garnish.

Their Funky Monkey is a banana and chocolate chip cake with a milk chocolate frosting.

They also have a Pumpkin Spice flavored cupcake during the month of October.

The inspiration for the shop’s name comes from Janeen Sara’s children, Luke and Lily.

The décor inside is very colorful and welcoming. There are a few tables in the back for customers to sit down and enjoy their cupcake with a cup of the gourmet coffee LuLi’s offers.

They also do in-store cupcake parties for children. The birthday boy or girl dresses up in a special chef hat and a LuLi’s apron.

At the party, the children get to decorate their own cupcakes with the icing bags used by the bakers. They also get to paint and are read “Froggy Bakes A Cake.”

LuLi’s now offers gift certificates starting at $10. They also have a Baker’s Dozen Club; after you buy 12 cupcakes you will get the 13th free.

Customers can buy a set of six cupcakes for $15 and a Baker’s Dozen for $30. LuLi’s can also do larger quantities upon request.

Besides the fact that LuLi’s has amazing cupcakes, the bakery is also a great addition to the local businesses.

The shop is located at 35 San Marco Ave., Suite 2. For more information, call (904)824-5280.