Baked by Melissa is a popular New York City-based cupcake company that has grown to have locations across the United States and internationally. As a relatively new company, having been founded in 2008, Baked by Melissa has experienced rapid expansion in the last decade or so.
In this article, we will look at how many Baked by Melissa locations there currently are. We will provide an overview of Baked by Melissa and its history, look at its expansion over the years, and examine how many stores it has in different states and countries. By the end, you should have a clear understanding of Baked by Melissa’s footprint and just how far its bite-sized cupcakes have spread.
About Baked by Melissa
Baked by Melissa was founded in 2008 by Melissa Ben-Ishay. The idea for the company came when Ben-Ishay was preparing for her wedding and wanted to give guests bite-sized cupcakes. She began selling the mini cupcakes in various flavors out of a small boutique in SoHo, New York City.
The cupcakes were an immediate hit, leading Ben-Ishay to expand the business. The cupcakes are about the size of a quarter and sold in packs of 3, 6, 25, or 50. Baked by Melissa offers a variety of fun and innovative flavors like tie-dye, s’mores, cookie dough, and marshmallow.
Part of the appeal of Baked by Melissa is the ability to sample different flavors in each pack. The cute, tiny size of the cupcakes also makes them perfect for parties, gifts, and special occasions. The brand has become very popular for its fresh, colorful cupcakes in flavors that are constantly changing.
Initial Expansion in New York City
After opening its first store in SoHo, Baked by Melissa saw quick success and expansion across New York City. Here is a look at its early expansion:
- 2008 – First location opens in SoHo
- 2009 – Second location opens on the Upper West Side
- 2011 – Adds stores in Nolita and the Upper East Side
- 2012 – Opens 5 more NYC locations, bringing total to 10
Baked by Melissa was able to rapidly build out locations across many of New York City’s most popular neighborhoods. From lower Manhattan to the Upper West Side, Baked by Melissa made its mark across the city in just a few short years.
National Expansion
Baked by Melissa began expanding beyond New York City starting in 2013. Here are some key milestones in the brand’s national expansion:
- 2013 – First location outside of NYC opens in Hoboken, NJ
- 2014 – Expands to more regions of NJ and first NYC-area airport location at JFK
- 2015 – Adds locations in Connecticut, Florida, and Pennsylvania
- 2016 – Continues Northeast expansion with locations in Maryland and Massachusetts
- 2017 – Opens first West Coast location in Los Angeles
- 2018 – Adds stores in Texas, the Midwest, and Washington DC
Within just five years, Baked by Melissa had stores across the Northeast, down the East Coast to Florida, throughout the Mid-Atlantic, and all the way to California. The rapid pace of expansion allowed Baked by Melissa to build a national presence and spread its brand across the country.
International Growth
Starting in 2018, Baked by Melissa began expanding internationally, starting with the Middle East. Here are some highlights:
- 2018 – First international location opens in Kuwait
- 2019 – Expands across the Middle East with locations in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman
- 2019 – Opens first Asian location in Singapore
- 2019 – Launches locations in Mexico
- 2020 – Continues Middle East expansion with new location in Egypt
Within just two years, Baked by Melissa had established itself in the Middle East, Asia, and Mexico. The company was strategic in its international growth, likely recognizing the brand appeal and potential of its cute, bite-sized cupcakes. The international expansion enabled Baked by Melissa to increase its global reach.
Current Number of Locations
As of October 2022, Baked by Melissa reports having over 150 locations across the United States and internationally. Here is a breakdown by region:
| Region | Number of Locations |
|---|---|
| Northeastern US | 60 |
| Southeastern US | 16 |
| Midwestern US | 9 |
| Western US | 15 |
| Middle East | 25 |
| Asia | 4 |
| Mexico | 3 |
| Canada | 3 |
| Total | 150+ |
The table shows that Baked by Melissa still maintains a strong presence in the Northeastern US, where it originated and initially expanded. However, it has worked to expand across the US and into international markets as well.
Top States by Number of Locations
Looking closer at Baked by Melissa’s US footprint, we can see which states have the highest number of locations:
| State | Number of Locations |
|---|---|
| New York | 43 |
| New Jersey | 17 |
| Florida | 7 |
| California | 6 |
| Pennsylvania | 6 |
Unsurprisingly, New York has the most locations with 43 stores throughout the state. This reflects Baked by Melissa’s New York City origins. New Jersey and Florida follow with the next highest number of locations, 17 and 7 respectively. California and Pennsylvania tie with 6 locations each.
International Locations
Looking at Baked by Melissa’s international footprint:
| Country | Number of Locations |
|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 9 |
| Saudi Arabia | 5 |
| Kuwait | 3 |
| Qatar | 2 |
| Singapore | 2 |
| Oman | 1 |
| Bahrain | 1 |
| Mexico | 3 |
| Canada | 3 |
The United Arab Emirates has the most international locations with 9 stores. Saudi Arabia follows with 5 locations. The rest of the Middle East expansion includes Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain. In Asia, Baked by Melissa operates 2 locations in Singapore. Mexico and Canada have 3 locations each.
Future Expansion
Baked by Melissa has quickly expanded from a small New York City startup to an international brand with over 150 locations and counting. Some areas the company could look to expand in the future include:
- Other major US cities like Chicago, Seattle, Denver, etc.
- Additional locations across the Southeastern US
- More stores in the Western half of the US
- Other Asian markets such as Japan, South Korea, etc.
- Europe – locations like London, Paris, etc.
Baked by Melissa’s bite-sized cupcakes and creative flavors have proven popular domestically and abroad. As the brand continues to grow in the coming years, consumers can likely expect to find Baked by Melissa outposts popping up in many more cities and countries around the world.
Conclusion
Baked by Melissa has experienced rapid growth since debuting in New York City in 2008. In just over a decade, the brand has expanded to over 150 locations across the United States and internationally.
The company maintains a strong presence in the Northeastern US, especially New York, where it got its start. But Baked by Melissa has worked to expand its footprint across the US, including major growth in Florida, California, and other states.
Internationally, Baked by Melissa has focused its efforts on the Middle East, with the most locations in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The company also operates stores in Asia, Mexico, and Canada.
With its appealing, bite-sized cupcakes in fun, rotating flavors, Baked by Melissa is sure to continue expanding in the years to come. More growth domestically and globally appears likely as the brand spreads its sweet treats to even more cities and countries around the world.