Walking into East Colfax Avenue’s cupcake and cereal boutique, The Shoppe, is like stepping into a world of confectionary delights.
Located at 3103 E. Colfax Ave. The Shoppe serves gourmet cupcakes and inventive cereal combinations. Comfortable seating, board games and a large-screen TV make The Shoppe a popular hangout.
The décor takes a little getting used to since it uses drawings of cartoon characters. The first impression is that you may have mistakenly entered a hip Japanese pop gallery. As your eyes adjust and your nose catches the aroma, you will be drawn to the dimly lit pastry case full of treats that have recently earned the title of Denver’s Best Cupcake from Channel 9 News.
The pastries come in flavors like strawberry champagne, red velvet, decadent double chocolate and Kahlua. All scream to be consumed for the bargain price of $3. Sugar-free cupcakes of the same flavors are available for $1.50. Along with more than 25 daily flavors, The Shoppe also offers seasonal specials, including pineapple tastiness, death by chocolate and banana split.
Vegan or gluten-free diets can choose from cakes for the dietary restricted. Vegan options come in seven varieties. Unlike many cardboard-tasting vegan treats, The Shoppe has managed to make its vegan cupcakes actually taste like cupcakes. The lemon blueberry may even cause you to question whether or not you are consuming dairy upon tasting the rich creamy frosting that tops the fluffy cake ever so lightly. The gluten-free cheesecake with fresh fruit is also a best seller.
If cupcakes are not quite your fancy, The Shoppe also has a spectacular array of cereals available in 20 brands, including rarities like Frankenberres, Boo Berry and Chocula. The Shoppe presents an alluring list of unique cereal recipes that include cereal combos $3.75 and additional toppings $0.25 that promise to spice up your favorite breakfast bowls. The current flavor of the month Blue Bwalls is $3.75 and combines fruity Trix, kid-pleasing Kix and fresh blueberries for an effect that is likely to leave you wanting more. The cereals are served with the customer’s choice of milks: organic, 2 percent, fat free, soy, rice and almond varieties.
The Shoppe is committed to backing local companies and products. Bhakti Chai, micro brewed in Boulder, along with Two Leaves and a Bud Tea from Roaring Fork Valley can be enjoyed while playing a board game. The large screen TV in one corner of the rectangular store provides additional entertainment as well with featured indie films, vintage cartoons and other eclectic programming. Several art shows featuring local artists are held throughout the year in The Shoppe.
The sweet boutique is closed Mondays and Sundays but its expansive hours the rest of the week make it the ideal hangout spot. Cupcakes can be consumed Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. as well as Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
To get there catch the #24 bus at University Station, get off at the Colfax stop and walk east.
