Philly Cupcake Truck Lady Speaks Out
She's Back In Business After Truck Was Impounded
PHILADELPHIA - Twitter fans here in Philadelphia follow the Buttercream Cupcake Truck's every move.
So imagine their dismay when the truck was impounded Tuesday by the city!
The city's department of Licenses & Inspections said they halted the truck because it was violating city set boundaries.
The city says the truck is not supposed to sell in Center City or University City because it's not fair to other businesses.
But Kate Carrara, a.k.a. the cupcake lady, says those boundaries are not always so clear. She has set up her business much like a roaming ice cream truck.
Carrara says she thought she was OK in the spot she picked out in University City on Tuesday. But she was booted from her truck and left to walk home.
Her husband later paid $200 to free the truck, and she was back in business Wednesday, selling her sweet treats at Love Park.
L&I officials said that they had warned Carrara before as to where she can sell and where she is no allowed to peddle those cupcakes.
Carrara, a former attorney, now says she's clear on where she can and cannot sell.
Earlier in the week came reports that bloggers are being contacted and told they must pay the city's Business Privilege Tax .
These incidents raised the question of whether this is a tough town for a small business. Consumer Reporter Michelle Buckman put that question to Mayor Michael Nutter on Wednesday.
Asked what he would say to those who hold that perception, Nutter said, "One, I'd say they're wrong. These are both situations where people have to follow the rules and regulations like everyone else. We love small business. It's the backbone of the city. But if you don't have a Business Privilege license and you're supposed to, then enforcement is going to come down on you. And in both of those instances it was about enforcement. Both knew that they were wrong, and as long as you follow the rules we're as business-friendly as anyone else."
Carrara said she's frequently approached by restaurant owners who said they wanted to do something like her truck, but they were overwhelmed by the process and ask her how she went about it.
"You know, they want to know, and I say, 'It's a lot of trial and error," Carrara said. "I've made a lot of mistakes. I continue to make mistakes. I try not to make mistakes in the quality of my product and treating my customers well, but outside of that, knowing how to navigate it is very hard.' So, what I would say to them is let's work on this, you know? Let's find a good solution for everybody that benefits the city, that brings tourism here, that brings them more tax revenues."
Carrara had a line of 50 people Wednesday when selling her cupcakes, she's even trying to hire and she loves what she does.
"Sorry, Philly! I'm doing my best," she said.