House of Cupcakes to open franchises in East Brunswick, Bronx, Manhattan

House of Cupcakes on Witherspoon Street plans to open several franchises in the coming months. Though the exact number of new locations has not been settled, there are plans in the works to have franchises in the Bronx, Manhattan and East Brunswick.

Ruth and Ron Bzdewka opened House of Cupcakes on Witherspoon Street in August 2008. In 2010, House of Cupcakes won the Food Network’s television show “Cupcake Wars.”

Ruth Bzdewka explained that a previous employer approached her and her husband about expanding the business this past summer. 

Steve Mandell, founder and owner of Party City, took interest in House of Cupcakes as a store with the potential to expand. The Bzdewka family owned and managed a Party City franchise for 15 years until 2006.

“He approached us and wanted to know if we would be interested in letting him franchise the House of Cupcakes concept,” Ruth said.

She also said that her family plans to continue running the Princeton bakery on their own.

“I think [winning 'Cupcake Wars'] obviously has helped our company grow and is a reason for [Mandell’s] interest in expansion,” Ruth said. “People love our cupcakes, and he knows that.” 

Ruth added that House of Cupcakes has several distinctive features, such as pull-apart cakes that can be personalized and the use of customer-chosen decorations and flavors.

The owners plan to improve the selection of baked goods in the stores with plans to start selling gourmet doughnuts. “We’re also always going to have something new or some kind of flavor just to keep everyone interested,” Ruth said.