Waterford's New Cupcake Shop (VIDEO)

Finally. The Crystal Mall has a gourmet cupcake shop.

In April, Chris Mastrianni and her gang of eight part-time employees – many of which are bakers – opened up in the Crystal Mall, on the second floor near JC Penney. The shop makes every cupcake completely from scratch, and has 14 unique flavors.

“I know cupcakes are really, really hot right now,” Mastrianni said. “And there weren’t many cupcake places in the area.”

Mastrianni and her bakers worked for months in her own kitchen developing her 14 flavors, which range from the Scarlet Bird, which is the traditional red velvet cupcake, to the Early Bird, a maple cupcake with maple cinnamon buttercream frosting, topped with crispy bacon (yes, bacon). Mastrianni spent day after day perfecting the recipes before she opened up Yellow Bird, and is happy with all 14.

“I love all the cupcakes we make, or else they wouldn’t be on the shelf,” she said.

The Full Story

Mastrianni is a mother of two and has a passion and a career in cooking and baking, including running a business making cookies. She wasn’t working before deciding to start Yellow Bird Cupcakes, and “was looking for something to do.”

, she decided she would pick a spot in the Crystal Mall. She hired bakers, worked out the recipes and in April opened for business.

“I’m happy to employ people, with the economy the way it is,” Mastrianni said. “My theory is you treat people well, and they will work harder for you. That’s the golden rule.”

Yellow Bird Cupcakes is a gourmet cupcake shop, with cupcakes costing $3 to $3.25 a piece. The shop also caters events, including anything from weddings to showers to birthday parties.

“Whatever the customer wants, we can do,” Mastrianni said. “Our customers are extremely important to us.”

So far, business has been as good and there have been many return customers, Mastrianni said. Yellow Bird Cupcakes have also catered several events, mainly birthdays and showers, Mastrianni said.

The customer base is largely younger people, from age 19 to 25, Mastrianni said. Along with the 14 cupcakes Yellow Bird makes, there is a special cupcake about once every two weeks, she said. One of the more popular and unique specials was a 7-up and Dorito cupcake, she said.

The number for Yellow Bird Cupcakes is 860-437-9851 and the website is yellowbirdcupcakes.com.