Custom vintage ovens that automatically/randomly open and shoot out steam. And this isn't any type of steam/smoke that you can pick up at a Halloween store or online. It's some real-deal fluids ordered + shipped from Germany, which is used for special effects in various films.
The tiny knobs automatically turn a half of a second before the oven doors open and after they close. I didn't just slap my logo on all of these ovens, they were all built into them when being molded + constructed from scratch.
!!!
Frosting + sprinkles oozing out of humongous industrial pipes. 95 percent of the tiles on the floor in my shoppe were not just ordered from a catalog. I had them all hand cut into smaller pieces to give the appearance of a larger, kookier atmosphere. I'm lucky to still be alive because I thought I was going to get murdered for requesting such tedious tasks.
The register area where most baked goods are passed through.
Pulsating faux-flames with custom cast iron Johnny Cupcakes stove-top grates.
My Pops and I. Behind us you can see a small glimpse of the gigantic 12' tall custom vintage oven. Oven doors in which secretly open up for the employees passage to the stock room. When the doors open up, some knobs automaticaly rotate and steam seeps out of the vents above.
It also has an working clock on top and an orange-red light inside to give heating effect.
May we take your order?
You have to experience all this in person. Like I said before, photos and videos do no justice. And speaking of... there will still be some more webisodes to come! And I'm working on getting a place in Los Angeles so that I can travel back + forth to hang out with my old + new customers/employees/friends family.
- Johnny Cupcakes
The entrance.
Aug 12, 2008
After going all out on my brands' packaging, details, shoppe design + overall experience - it was only appropriate for me to make a memorable grand entrance.
Stuffed with packing hay and nailed shut with a dozen rusty bolts +
nails - I rested inside before the big delivery, to later be pried open. I had two (new) friends, Pete + Eric, whom specialize in collecting/restoring vintage automobiles as well as building props for various movies - work on an idea I had. I thought it would be fitting to have a 1950 Johnny Cupcakes delivery truck, deliver me inside of a custom / aged wooden crate. I even requested them dressing up for the role - in which they were just as excited about it as I was.
The delivery truck worked perfect with the theme I had imagined. Bringing these wacky ideas to life is my all time favorite thing to do.
These swell guys whom worked on all the crates in the opening scene of the newest Indiana Jones movie, took my body measurements and whipped up a solid olde-fashioned wooden crate for me to be packed inside.
I felt like Hannibal Lecter, except with hay in my pants.
Like Bobby Hundreds said, "It felt like the Beatles had landed in LA."
My excitement was too overwhelming that the heat, splinters and underpants-hay combo didn't bother me one bit.
Hi.
It's time to open the doors!
- Johnny Cupcakes
The line.
Aug 11, 2008
There must of been well over 600 people waiting in line (you can't even see near the end of the line in my photos.) I made sure everyone got inside and was happy. Even if it made me stay open until 1:00 am.
Hundreds camped out, some even camped out 4 days ahead of time. Die hard customers marked their territory - making their way to the new LA Johnny Cupcakes shoppe all the way from Boston, New Hampshire, Florida, Maryland, Texas, Las Vegas, Connecticut, Arizona, all over California and even London!
Nights before, as exhausted as I was - I hung out with all of my camping out customers. I even performed a handful of magic tricks. I didn't have to hang out with anyone though. I dodn't have to be at my shop(s). I don't even need to work if I don't want to. However, this is my hobby and my life. Whether it's me drawing weird ideas for new shirts, filling orders, doing customer service, breaking down boxes or designing my stores - I love having a hand in everything even if it means barely any sleep for me. And if someone offered me all the money in the world for my brand, I would say NOPE in a heart beat. I never started this to make a ton of money and move on. I started this brand as a joke/for the fun of it. I could of sold millions of shirts to a bunch of different chain stores, but I declined. Everyone thought I was crazy at the time, but I knew I wanted longevity and now it has brought me my cult following of JC heads.
And who are all these crazy customers you may ask yourself? These aren't just customers, they're part of my family. I wouldn't be here without 'em! They all appreciate that it's home grown, family run, exclusive and most of all -- personal. You won't see Marc Jacobs or Ralph Lauren hanging out with their customer at their shops. Although I love and respect both of those designers, we just have different priorities.
There are many people who are so frustrated because they don't understand what the big deal is about a shirt with a cupcake on it. Well well... it's not just a shirt with a cupcake on it. Many companies have tried ripping me off because they think pastries on shirts will sell. It's less the designs and more of all the little things behind 'em that every other company passes up because they're more concerned with running safe, typical business's where selling shirts to every store in the world is the main goal.
To each his own I guess. I'm completely content with what I have and wouldn't give it up for the world. And if other people hate because they don't understand it, then that is perfectly fine. More exclusive shirts for my Johnny Cupcakers!
I love you guys!
- Johnny Cupcakes
Johnny Cupcakes LA.
Aug 4, 2008
Thank you for the warm welcoming everyone! The whole opening was pretty surreal..
I'm still in LA for another day or two -- with my choppy internet signal and chock full of errands to run. Until I get up some new video webisodes + photos of the grand opening, you can check out the comprehensive and very generous article that my friend Bobby posted about on his blog. CLICK HERE to read said article... and remember, it's something you can't really experience through photos or videos.
- Johnny Cupcakes
4-day camping (started Tuesday morn.)
Jul 30, 2008
Holy moley - this is record breaking! These kind, funny, die-hard customers have decided to camp out 4 DAYS prior to my grand opening. They were there at the crack of dawn this morning (Tuesday). Not only are they camping out, but they got the parking spot RIGHT in front of my shop. These clever people took their vintage Volkswagen van and gutted it out for beds. They have been taking shifts sleeping/standing their ground in the soon to be, very first, west-coast Johnny Cupcakes line.
Highlight of the night was seeing Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel stop to stare at my shop all confused about the people camping out. They probably think it's a cupcake shop too. I also think they were more confused at why my campers weren't paying any attention to them - ha!
The line is starting to grow.... I can't wait to see all the new and familiar faces! Very exciting to see what the next few days bring.
PS: I don't know if you remember or not - but I almost didn't open a shop in California because I was afraid of earthquakes. Well, I was in my first earthquake this morning. I thought my friend Eric was messing around with me and jumping on the back of my car. I looked back and nobody was there. I then looked forward and saw street wires going crazy, as if a big ghost was playing jump rope with 'em. I thought it was windy out for a sec, and right when I put my hand out the window and felt no wind at all - I knew I was in my very first earthquake. All these store windows across the way, were pouncing in and out, while customers and store owners frantically ran outside.
It was short but definitely made me feel uneasy. The scariest part was that I was unable to get a hold of my friends or family because my cell phone wouldn't work for nearly an hour or so, after wards. I guess that's what happens when some natural disasters strike. I could only imagine what was going on through my moms head...
CLICK HERE to the this video in HD and in a bit larger format. It looks way better! And be sure to be a little patient while it loads completely. http://www.vimeo.com/1402868
Woah. Only one more week until the grand opening of my LA shoppe! I apologize for the lack in blog updates - it's just crunch time and my head is spinning in a bazillion different directions this week. Plus I want everyone who visits my website to see the latest webisodes. I have that excited/anxious pit in my stomach. Sorta like that roller coaster hill/drop feeling. I love it though. I live on this kind of stuff.
Some limited edition products will be given out to the first 100 and something paying customers. There will be an array of LA exclusive t-shirts and silk screened prints available in-store. Also, actual gourmet cupcakes will be gifted to customers throughout the day (while supplies last). Photos and video recording will be capturing this event - so rep your vintage/limited/old/rare/out of print Johnny Cupcakes shirts!
Anyways, I highly suggest to all of you whom are camping out, waiting in line, etc. --- to bring both sunblock and umbrellas so you don't get cooked. Chairs would be comfy too. And again, please spread the word and re-post this new video everywhere. Thank you much for all of your help, and remember - you really have to see this in person to get the full effect! See you soon!
CLICK HEREto the this video in HD and in a bit larger format. It looks way better! And be sure to be a little patient while it loads completely. http://www.vimeo.com/1360334
This second video/webisode of my Los Angeles shoppe. In my last video, you saw all of my wacky ideas and concepts. In webisode #2 - you will see my ideas slowly but surely start forming. Re-post this video + spread the word about the coming grand opening of my Los Angeles shoppe; Saturday August 2nd. Doors at 3pm. 7959 Melrose Avenue.
There are already a ton of people flying out from all around the U.S. to camp out for 3 days prior to the grand opening. Yes, 3 days.
See you there!
- Johnny Cupcakes
Progression.
Jul 16, 2008
I attended a few meetings today. Checked up on all the finishing touches that are being prepped for paint, engineering + installation. It feels so weird that the new shop opening is right around the corner! Sorta surreal. Well, it's been nearly 6 months since I signed my lease. My shop would of been open a while back if it wasn't for my borderline o.c.d. and constant brain-stormage. I wanted to open my shop with a bang, rather than adding things to it down the road.
New video is going to be posted online in anytime now... hopefully tonight!
- Johnny Cupcakes
Hip-Hop.
Jul 16, 2008
Who needs coffee + energy drinks when you have a bed to pounce on before you start your day. It looks like a ghost snuck in there to cause some mischief with me. For real though, the word around my hotel is that it is really haunted.
- Johnny Cupcakes
Long lost friends.
Jul 16, 2008
So I've been internet friends with this guy Dan Fleres for about 4 years now. During the opening of my very first home town shop, I displayed a number of Dan's uniquely styled paintings. 4 years later he spotted me from across the street and came over to say hello. He was in town for one of his art showings at the Carmichael Gallery of Contemporary Art in West Hollywood. If anyone gets a chance, head over there.
The show also consisted of some other great artists; Blinky, Downtimer, Josh Taylor and Zoso (whom also is another internet friend that I finally met. Thanks for helping me out in my time of need!)
Happy birthday Dan - and nice to meet everyone!
- Johnny Cupcakes
Where's Waldo?
Jul 15, 2008
While working outside of my shop, this kid walked by and asked if he could get his photo taken with me. After chatting with this chill kid, turns out he's Ice-T's son, 'Lil Ice'. He'll prolly be camping out at the grand opening. See you there Lil Ice!
I guess these girls traveled down to my shop in hopes of seeing me there...well they found me. Hi. Next time I should put on a striped shirt and call myself Waldo. These girls were funny though! They're all anxiously waiting for opening day.
These 2 spotted me from across the street and were excited that I came over to talk with them. Down to earth guy's reppin The Hundreds cap!
Another group of excited Johnny Cupcakers! It's always interesting to me, to meet people who've been proudly ordering online + representing from across the country.
And the biggest group of them all! I've received a few e-mails in the past, from Vince and Matty (the two brothers on the right). I guess I've been a huge, huge inspiration to them. They told me that they are unable to make it to my grand opening, so I figured I'd exchange numbers and meet up with these dudes to give them a small sneak peek of what's in store. We met up, hung out and laughed for over an hour. Vince, Matty and all of their friends were funny, kind, good people. I plan on meeting up and hanging out with them before they depart on their tour. They're in a band called 'Dear Life', and they have two great companies; 'Loud & Obnoxious' and 'Glad Rags Ink'. It's always nice to see young entrepreneurs doing their thing. It's even better when you see it's with all their best friends + family.
- Johnny Cupcakes
Happy Birthday to me.
Jul 15, 2008
Well it's July 15th and I just turned 26. It was almost yesterday when I was blowing out candles to my custom Ghostbusters birthday cake that my mom + dad got me. Feels kind of weird being away from my family and best friends. Instead I'm alone in a hotel in California working wayy late.
The photo above is what I feel like on the inside. The cement ground represents the solid foundation that I've built and continue to build. The many doors all stacked on top of one another is telling me that I should take one door/day at a time yet there are still many doors leading to different opportunities + adventures in life, so be patient. The cute couple in the backround is telling me that I'm going to meet a woman with a humongous ceramic head. Just kidding. I took this photo when driving by some random junk yard/antique place. I don't know what I'm feeling inside, just super tired and delirious. I figured I had to post a blog before passing out.
Thank you mom + dad for doing the wild thing back in 1982. I wouldn't be here without ya! I love life and am excited for the present and future.
- Johnny Cupcakes
Movie theater madness.
Jul 13, 2008
Don't forget to rep your Jokester + Batcakes t-shirts at the movies! The Dark Knight comes out this Friday, July 18th - I don't think I've been excited for a movie like this, in a long time.
Growing up, I definitely kept our family dentist in business with my Batman cereal eating habit. Not to mention Sugar Smacks with that happy happy frog on the cover of the box. I guess the changed their name from Sugar Smacks to Smacks and/or Honey Smacks because parents didn't want to purchase cereal that said 'Sugar' real big on the front of the box. It still has the same amount of sugar I'm sure... just like every other box of cereal, with the exception of Kashi + other jaw-breaking natural forest-tasting bits.
But when I was younger, it was less of the cereal and more of the prize inside. You could even get a decent sized piggy bank with your cereal box (see Batman cereal photo). Now you have to send in twenty-two proofs of purchase as well as entering ninety-nine secret codes on some website. These companies are making out like bandits because no kid is going to have the attention span to type that much information in, never mind have computer privileges from their parents. And what about those families with no computers?
Same deal goes with soda caps where you could instantly win a free beverage. Now it's a bunch of jumbled case-sensitive letters and numbers, just like when you add someone on myspace and have to type in all that jumbled nonsense. There is no instant gratification anymore.
I can almost guarantee that more than half of the free prizes, beverages, etc. are not redeemed. Smart move for companies cutting corners. Not so smart move for companies trying to create memorable experiences + dimple-digging smiles on the many faces of children. Great way to make kids go on the dangerous internet. I hope you feel good about yourselves.
