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Categories: Men's Clothing, Women's Clothing [Edit]
Neighborhood: Back BayHynes Convention Center (Green)
Mon-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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Johnny Cupcakes is a clothing brand, not a cupcake shop.
People seem to get very upset about this.
Anyway, Johnny Cupcakes is an awesome brand, started by a MA native. They produce limited edition shirts, accessories and random stuff like notebooks and pencils adorned with the cupcake & crossbones logo.
All of their items are limited edition, only a certain number of shirts are produced for each design.
For all the people complaining that they can never get the product they want, this is part of the appeal.
If the company only makes 300 of a certain design, you won't be a clone of every other person in the world.
The limited edition idea makes the items collectible, and ensures you won't be a clone of every other person in your city.
The merchandise is rather pricey ($35 for a shirt on average) but that's the price your pay for a well made shirt, with a custom JC tag and a cupcake and crossbones patch.
Johnny Cupcakes is the real deal, they don't cut corners or rush things. Things you buy there are unique items that are made right, so they will last a lifetime.
Recently, Johnny has started hosting movie nights at Coolidge theater, a chance to give his fans a fun evening.
I love the brand, I have several JC items, and I think it's an awesome idea!
I'm retarded.
Being a silly new yorker who is perpetually on a diet, I stood at the bottom of the stairs staring at signs promising 'no fat', 'no sugar', 'no calories'.... thinking I was heading into the perfect bakery. Could they be kosher, and gluten free?? (a la 'babycakes' in nyc??!)
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Eagerly peering into the cases to have boxers and tshirts staring back at me. EPIC FAIL.
Okay so after the initially shock, and embarassment I decided to really have a look at the graphic designs on the t-shirt, and I have to say I was super impressed! I wound up buying a nice pair of boxers for the boy, and he was super pleased. I think this is a great store for gifts for the guy who has everything, as the products here are very unique. :)
I'm giving an extra star for the $5 and $9 tshirt sales I saw in the store...pretty nice deals!
Granted I went into the store like a sucker for bait and switch tactics. With the name of Cupcakes in the title, and the counter windows similar to food displays, I was pretty hungry for something sweet....
The unique graphics on the shirts and the Halloween-decor all over the store really added a cool vibe feel. I kind of think JC is the renegrade lone wolfer and wonder if Simone Legno ever opened his own store for his TokiDoki graphics...it would be something like this place.
On the sad side, the prices were a bit high, but with the store sale going on....this should placate the grunge fashionistas of Boston.
I love the idea of this place. The cleverness of the store and the designs are awesome. I don't know how many people I've taken into this store who think it's a cupcake store and find it hilarious when it's actually a t-shirt shop.
So why 2 stars?? These things are WAY overpriced. And they have such a tiny selection of shirts to begin with. As many times as I go into that store, I can never bring myself to buy anything. Nothing makes me want to actually buy them. I love to look at them, but if the store can't make me buy them, how do they do any business? If I was a student or someone who could wear t-shirts everyday, I think it would be different, but unfortunately I can't. My t-shirts are mostly reserved for working out, and I won't be buying and JC shirts for that!
I like the concept of the store. I like the originality of the logo. I even like Johnny, who came to my school and did this presentation about entrepreneurship and how he started out selling his t-shirts from his car to a multi-million business - kudos.
What I don't like is how JC became such a fad and what was suppose to be unique and exclusive (since he refuses to put his clothing in department stores like Macy's or whatever) is actually worn by 80% of high school kids all over Boston. Boo.
Plus, it's just not my style - or in my price range. I would have liked it better if they sold cupcakes.
People really need to give up the "they have no cupcakes omg it is now the end of the world!!!!!!" reviews up. Yeah, I get it, but seriously? This, coming from a person who loves cupcakes and baking, too.
As a graphic designer, I have a great deal of respect for this place. I read about the concept long before I ever stepped foot into this store so I wasn't expecting to stuff my face with cake. And just to let you all know...on special store occasions they actually do have cupcakes!
I admit though, the t-shirt prices are overpriced, but I do like the buttons they sell for $1. They are cheap and cute. I do love the set up of this store, pastry case, huge mixer, the smell of cake. Get over the "no cupcakes" fact and enjoy someone's idea for a unique way to sell clothes. I guess maybe only creative people can enjoy this store for what it was really supposed to mean...
Hilarious that people think this is a cupcake store and it's not? Yes. (that's what the second star is for-well played)
Awesome that it sells little to no overpriced clothing that has no artistic quality whatsoever? No. No, nope, nada, no way, no how.
Johnny Cupcakes has seriously lost its' novelty.
With suburban high school students sporting their tees left and right, JC has officially lost all street cred. Granted, I can't blame a clothing company for their success, hence the two stars.
However, the quality ain't that great and the staff are unnecessarily pretentious. I can't even wander in and browse the designs without getting eyeballed and mentally scoffed at. Naht cool, JC.
The whole bakery concept is cute, however, misleading. Boo :(
Not gonna lie, I RAN into this place as fast as I could when it first opened on Newbury Street. This was before Sweet or any cupcake boutiques existed and I nearly wet myself when I saw a huge CUPCAKE sign on Newbury Street.
So just like 90% of the Yelpers, I ran in and fell to my knees when I saw the coolers were filled with... shirts?!?!?! What the EFF?!
At that point, I ran out grumpy, discouraged, and more than disappointed. Once I got over my feeling of complete sadness/embarrassment, I made my way back in and actually looked at the merchandise. It's cute, it's fun, it's pretty damn cool. But I have yet to buy anything from here because I can't justify buying a $40 tee shirt. Even if it has a cupcake on it.
Awesome staff, super organized store... I give them credit. Hoever, it's just not my type of place.
Prelude: In February of 2009, Cindy and I embarked on a 48-hour eating tour around the greater Boston area. I called it the Boston Masticare - a bad pun off the Italian transitive verb "to chew."
Stop #9
You know what goes great with coffee? (See http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Cupcakes. You know who doesn't have real cupcakes? Johnny Cupcakes. What a tease. I knew those big promises of "0 Calories, Fat Free!" were too good to be true. If you don't sell cupcakes, then why all the refrigerators and aprons? Why must you lie to me like that? No, I don't want a tiny free cupcake with every purchase, I just want a mountain of sugar and chocolate frosting I can sink my teeth into.
Sigh. Sometimes, there fat-free cupcakes are too good to be true.
[Original Visit: February 14, 2009, 5:29 PM]
What is this place. Who do they think they are? And why are they mad at me, I wanted some cupcakes. There were no cupcakes in this place. No cupcakes, but shirts in a cooler. And the display cooler. For $40 per pop.
No cupcake.
Gross.
If you are new to town, you wouldn't think that this is a clothing store.
In the front of the store, it says 'no fat, no carbs, and no sugar.' You would think it's a bakery, but it's not. I was like 'wow,' I wonder what kind of cupcakes they are serving so I walked in. It was a gallery of clothes in cases with cupcake themes. Well, the clothes are not my style. If you are into hip hop style, then it's for you.
Johnny Cupcakes T-shirts are a one-hit wonder, so I was surprised to find that he has a store. I suppose this could've worked out if he put a little more into the concept, because it feels pretty half assed.
Oh, yeah. Cupcakes, let's pretend this is a bakery. But...the colorways of the tshirts and whatever else he chose to have as decor clash with the cute cupcake theme. I mean, if it went too far on the cupcake decor, it wouldn't be appealing for boys -- his main target group.
But otherwise, I don't even know anyone who wears JC shirts anymore. It was hot for like literally one summer. The design isn't creative. Skull and cupcake, hmm! let me take these saturated trend images and make it an uber saturated trend? FAIL.
What began as a cute idea has now run it's course. From the constantly pretentious staff in the Newbury Street store (and I REALLY mean that; each time I've been in there, I've experienced some little suburban girl who seems to think she's managing the spring collection at Fashion Week), to the overtly self importance of Johnny himself, (check out his video blogging from London and you'll see what I mean.), the quality, customer service and selection is abysmal and not worth repeat visits.
Still, the concept is/WAS cute until you realize you're paying $35-$50 for low quality t-shirts with what feels like an iron-on transfer.
Their stock in constantly depleted. There have been a couple of designs I've been interested in purchasing but each time I've checked the site OR the store over the last couple of years, you simply can't get all the designs.
Johnny, if you want to grow up and be a successful business man, focus on your CUSTOMERS, not posing as a hipster in demand in the U.K.
While I hope the business model AND Johnny find long term success, I am absolutely DONE with this place as of this weekend. Oh, and the whole bakery concept is played out. Get some new game.
I agree with Ben - give me a break. Because they don't have actual edible cupcakes, you give them one or two stars? Get real, Yelp.
Johnny Cupcakes is cool. I dig this place. I like the staff (especially the dude with the crazy beard and the glasses) - they aren't as bad (or unhelpful) as people say they are. When you head to stores and see stylish Nike t's and different designer t-shirts (The Hundreds, 10Deep, etc.) going for 30 bucks - why should JC be any different? Aren't you the same people who drop $35 dollars for a Red Sox player name t-shirt? I do the same, but don't complain about it.
The bakery concept rocks.
I'm not sure what you folks are talking about, this place has the best damn cupcakes this side of the Mississippi.
The selection? Ridiculous. Too many flavors and cupcake sizes to name. Johnny is a genius for the movie, sports and Halloween themed cupcakes. (My personal favorite = Celtics Cupcake w/ the mint green frosting!) There is also quite a few vegan options too which made my lady very, very happy. Also the limited edition cupcakes attract quite the hungry crowd.
One of the most important things that folks haven't really touched on is the staff. Friendly, knowledgeable and always very upbeat.
Also I can't forget about the online ordering system. I've been ordering online for years and the cupcakes always arrive fresh and in some of the coolest, unique packaging ever!
Ok...now I'm feenin' for some cupcakes.
It's a great place if you like overpriced streetwear aping whatever the LA and NYC street wear brands were doing a year ago.
It sucks if you want cupcakes.
Johnny Cupcakes... doesn't sell cupcakes.
I can't take it. Cute idea to stick all your clothing covered in cupcake cartoon drawings in refrigerators and bakery cases. So I see you have the setup to sell cupcakes. So why don't you?
I don't know. I bought a shirt for my friend back in Denver who is actually a cupcake baker. And she would rather make cupcakes instead of war, so it seemed fitting. I winced a bit when I was charged $30. She loved the gift, but I won't be back. I wanted a cupcake.
Stupid gimmick.
OMG they are so awesome! oh wait....no they are not. Look they are a fad. There is quality in the work but the designs really arent that, ill admit some of them are sick and I even own the limited scarf. Def check it out if youve never been cause the theme is unique, but I wouldnt say the clothes are most haves.
I love the concept, but I agree with the guys below - CUPCAKES and T-SHIRTS would be ideal.
Oddly enough, being in the store with all the colours and the bakery set-up really does makes you kinda hungry, so why not?
Good lord, what will I say about a place that I hate more than that rat infested Applebees in Luling, Texas? I lived directly across the street from this place for a whole year and tolerating the little suburban fucks that flocked to this shit storm of a clothing store has left me bitter and frigid.
I really thought I couldn't hate anything in this family of clothing more than Paul Frank, but I guess I've been proved wrong. The staff is stupid, the clothes are ugly, and every time I see anyone with something from this store, I have the urge to spit on them.
The day the Halloween shirt came out last year, people waited in line for HOURS. It was everything I could do to keep from throwing dead puppies on this hoard of idiot assholes. Give me a break and go home to your New Found Glory and Good Charlotte collections.
I find it funny how someone said that the guy that runs this is a "d-bag with hair gelled up and thinks fall out boy is a punk band."
Am I the only one on here that knows that the singer from On Broken Wings created this store? Or is everyone too dumb to read that section of the biography?
As far as the clothing they carry, some of it is pretty cool, I've bought a few things, typically on sale here. Whenever I would find a shirt that I really liked, it seemed to always be sold out.
Living right by Newbury Street, I walk past this place regularly, so it's kind of funny to see the crowds it attracts. I guess the hype and being into the music scene that the singer comes from, it's kind of a real culture-shock when you see all of the different kinds of characters that walk in there.
Nice guy though, and although a lot of people bitch about the waste of money he spent putting all of it together, you are nonetheless talking about him and his company (and may have even went there), so he accomplished what he wanted to.
And for those who really expected cupcakes...Maybe you guys should try using the wonderful power of google. Here, I'll spell it out for you:
http://www.google.com/
This way you don't travel cross-country to find out there's no actual cupcakes.
This is a great place to go. The reason why it might be a little expensive is because the t-shirts are high quality and I'd definitely recommend going to this place. Very cute and I've met the creator and owner himself. He is a very sweet and hardworking guy, don't forget cute ;). Definitely would recommend it for people who are looking for youthful, cute, and hip clothing.
I remember reading about how Urban Outfitters had stolen Johnny Cupcake's tee-shirt designs and was delighted when he eventually opened his own store. From what I had seen in all that press, the designs were really cute and I wished him success (yes, I know his name isn't actually Johnny Cupcakes...it would be cooler if it were, though).
I've been meaning to stop in here for ages. I looked online to see what's on offer and thought the selection was rather limited and hideously overpriced. I assumed there would be more on offer in the store. I was totally wrong - it's the exact same.
On the wall of the store is the incredibly long-winded, humorless and self-congratulatory story of Johnny Cupcakes. (On the website, incidentally, he spells "really" wrong - "realy." This annoys me.) The conceit of the store - t-shirts in glass-fronted refrigerators and on baking sheets - is cute but without any racks to browse through it ends up coming off rather pretentious.
The designs are fun, but most lack any of the irony, wit or contrast they originally started with. Oven mitts? Chefs? Forks? That's a bit obvious. I'm not going to shell out nearly forty bucks for a tee that isn't brilliant.
Weirdly, though, I'm still rooting for the guy. I'm American - I love a good pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps success story. There's definitely talent there; hopefully he can tap back into it instead of coasting on his initial wave of success.
Yup, I thought they sold cupcakes too. Instead they sell dumb t shirts, some of them out of an old refrigerator/deli display case.
What a waste of money to buy one of those tanks just to put your lame shirts in. Jen T is right, how can they afford the rent on Newbury when they have the same sized inventory of a small child peddling chicklets gum in Tijuana?
I started to read the "story" behind the store printed up on the wall, and I immediately knew that the guy who started the place is the same D-BAG you see countless times walking down the street - hair gelled up, subscribes to Maxim and Mens Health magazines, and thinks that Fall Out Boy is a punk band.
It'd be another story if the shirts were clever, but they aren't...it's like a cupcake shaped skull and crossbones, and another one saying "make cupcakes, not war." Well take some of your own advice and make cupcakes, not shirts! As long as the cupcakes aren't from the same BJ's wholesale club from which SWEET gets theirs!!
I really wanted a T-shirt from this Clothing store and since it's on Newbury St close to where we were staying I got one.
No Cupcakes sold here people, just a clothing store.
There's a size chart on the wall for both men & women. I don't think they have fitting rooms so know you're size before coming here.
I got a Johnny Cupcakes T-shirt for $35 total! Tax included in the price.
Return policy: all "bake sale" items & underwear sales are final, no returns accepted. Unwashed merchandise can be returned or exchanged within 14 days of purcahse w/ receipt. Returns after 14 days or without receipt will be issued a store credit. Defective merchandise may be exchanged & are subject to manager's approval.
Note: All shirts are 100% cotton & often shrink. Please size accordingly.
Credit cards taken.
I remember waiting for this place to open a few years back. I was a closet cupcakeaholic at that point.
I would walk past the upcoming building with excitement, the way a four year old anticipates christmas/chanukah.
A week or so after it opened, I sprinted inside, steam coming off my pink penguin Van's and swung the door open. I leaped inside, ready to gobble anything with a sprinkle on it when my dreams were crushed.
It was like finding out that Santa, the Easter Bunny, AND the tooth fairy do not exist at the same time.
Luckily, there were cute hoodies and t-shirts with cupcakes on them to minimize the trauma inflicted upon me by this shocking revelation.
I heart Johnny C-Cakes with a passion and have been a big fan (via on-line following and purchases) for like 2+ years. Sadly, the store front in Boston only earned 3stars.
Great set-up, love the signs and of course the T-Shirts. Adorable displays of individual shirts on baking trays housed within retro refrigerators. The thing that isn't awesome or adorable is the customer service. Hello!! Ask me if I need assistance if you have to go in the back to get the shirts. Instead the sales associates watch people loiter awkwardly until they finally, unenthusiastically ask ....."can I get you something?" LAME!
I'm giving this one star because of the pain of disappointment and embarrassment I felt when rushing into Johnny Cupcakes for the first time looking for a good cupcake.
False advertising.
I know many of you who have reviewed don't like this place. I think it's a good idea, but I don't really buy anything there because it is a little too pricey. I agree that the space is a little empty and I wish that you could see all the shirts at once.
But I've met John and he's a nice guy. And I respect what he does. I love his packaging and marketing. I think some of the shirts are really interesting and some are funny. But I wouldn't pay $40 for a t-shirt, no matter where it's from.
I walked in..
was looking for cupcake..
WTF?
I walked out..
1 hour later, I went back..
I purchased for a cupcake T-shirt..
am I happy? YES, I am!!
Now, I could have my cake and wear it too. Johnny Cupcakes faked the appearance of a bakery, but upon closer inspection through their glass pastry cases, I realized clothes were the sweet treat here. The ultimate emblem of cupcake and crossbones graced T-shirts asking "Have you had your cupcake today?" or "Make cupcakes. Not war."
Keeping these cool threads in refrigeration cases or displayed on baking sheets, the novelty came at a price (about $35 a T-shirt) with pierced and tatted scat-cats running the joint, as if waiting for their older, non-existent boss to return.
"It reminds me of the Emperor's New Clothes," said my boyfriend's stepfather. It was true- the stark store worked its magic with bare bones and a fanciful idea that whipped success out of nothing...kind of like cupcakes- convincing the masses one tray at a time.
$35? Psh!!!
I have a t-shirt that fits me in that HOTT kind of way. And it has a picture of ET flying on his bike across the moon (you know the famous shot)... but better because he has a huge pink cupcake in his bicycle basket!
Yeah boyee!!! I freakin heart Johnny Cupcakes. One of a kind.
I don't like this store, and I much prefer the warehouse in Hull. Simply because this store just goes to show that JC has sold out to the man. Everything would have been fine if JC went the "boutique stores only" way out and only ran limited prints that way... but no, Johnny E HAAAD to open a store on Newbury St.
Annnnd now, I see everyone from 3 year olds, to scene queens, to "hipster" kids, to FREAKIN' 50something year old tourist wearing JC tees. I bet half of them don't even know the back story of how Johnny E started this operation out of the back of his car, but rather think "it's cute".
Don't get me wrong, I have a tee from JC. 'A' tee, as in ONE. And it's one of the original prints before JC started to become a household name, before Newbury St and before charging 40 dollars for a FREAKIN' tee shirt. I have a button too, but I didn't buy that so it doesn't count.
Anyways, I've witnessed too many times out of towners and "out of touchers" get fooled by the Newbury Street store front. "Ohhh, cupcakes let's get some" you can over hear and if you watch long enough you'll see the look of dismay coming back out the door the so rushed to go in. C'est la vie.
It's very difficult for me to give this place two stars. It's only cause 0 is not an option.
2 stars because some of the designs are sort of cool. But seriously?... No cupcakes????
But if you have a single molecule of testosterone in your body, I hope you have the self respect to ask for a bag instead of those little take away boxes they put your shirts in...
This place should have been named "Johnny T-Shirts".
It is not very nice to entice me to visit your establishment with the promise of little, pocket-sized baked goods and instead sell shirts that I can't even try on. Do you know why there's no fitting rooms there? Because there shouldn't be fitting rooms in bakeries! And Johnny Cupcakes should be a bakery.
Get rid of the fridges! Revolt! Revolt!
Haha, I have no stars for this place. Like other Yelpers, I got so freakin excited when I saw a place that sold cupcakes. Went into the store with my boyfriend, stood right in front of the front desk where the cashier was to study the menu and saw that there were only three sizes. Three sizes of cupcakes? Why did a cupcake cost more than $2?
My jaw dropped.
"THERE'S NO CUPCAAAAAKES??"
I scurried out of the store because my boyfriend made me realize that I was thinking out loud. Thinking in retrospect, the employees must have been so disinterested in my exclamation because I must've been the 50th person to be surprised that they don't sell cupcakes.
Want a t-shirt with a cupcake on it? Come here!
I like it. I'm a fan. I was a fan when he just had that one shop in Hull. Obviously I'm not going to go out and get a whole cupcake themed wardrobe but I totally do rock a piece or two.
I think I admire the fact that this is a totally successful concept store more than anything else.
And why do people hate the fact that they're disappointed when they realize it's not a bakery? How did that first conversation go when you heard about this place anyway? How did you miss all the clues that it's an apparel store?
Shame on you for deducting stars due to your lack of detective skills.
Johnny Cupcakes is partially responsible for the current fashion trend involving t-shirts. The back story of how the company came to be is fantastic. It embodies the American Dream like few stories do today.
Great job, Johnny. Keep it fresh.
Dear Johnny,
How's it been - your first year on Newbury St? Pretty good, right? I mean, the buzz, the fans, the myspace culture. Your T-shirts are selling like hot somethings and you're in the papers every day - self-promotion never looked so easy! So I say kudos to you. I've got a lot of respect for your ambition, your success and the community you've built up. Okay - I admit it, I'm jealous Johnny, jealous.
But what's in store for the future? You can't just carry on selling the muffin and cross bones tops everywhere, can you? Saturation is brand-suicide, just ask Burberry. You don't want to end up like that place in Martha's Vineyard where every dick buys the SAME black dog T-shirt do you? You do? REALLY? Why??
It's to pay the rent isn't it? Yeah the rent - it's a killer, right? Newbury St rent. That's why your T-shirts are so expensive isn't it? Don't tell me they're expensive to foster exclusivity - that shit doesn't wash with this generation. You sell these $40 to $70 brand shirts to satisfy the man.
But what happens when people don't want THAT shirt? What happens when people like me and my friends come in to your store, look around, enjoy the novelty of Boston having a slightly imaginative store but then walk straight out? What happens when I see some of your great new designs online but can find just as good stuff for half the price elsewhere. What pays the rent then? Any idea?
CUPCAKES
Yes, Johnny - do it. Please!!!!
I mean come on, they're so easy to make, you already give some away every now and then. Think of those huge profit margins - you'll be able to drop the prices of those great new designs and stop relying on the tired muffin and crossbones tops.
We at Yelp are here to help you. We know the mood of Boston. We know what Newbury St wants - cupcakes. Cool ones. You can do it!
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Quincy, MA
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Neighborhood: Harvard Square
Neighborhood: Harvard Square
Category: Shopping
Neighborhood: Central Square
Category: Men's Clothing
Quincy, MA
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Category: Men's Clothing
Boston, MA
Category: Fashion
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