Cupcake Truck Confiscated in University City

The “Buttercream Cupcake Lady” has been selling cupcakes all over the City of Philadelphia for about a year now.  Buttercream is operated out of a catering kitchen in Northern Liberties, but owner Kate Carrara took it to a whole new level, transforming a former postal truck into a mobile business. Carrara is a licensed as a roamer, much like an ice-cream truck. She has a permit to park at LOVE Park on Wednesdays, but most of Center City and University City are off-limits, and she found that out the hard way.

Carrara says the City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections confiscated her truck Tuesday in the University City neighborhood, saying she was vending in a prohibited area; but the L&I Commissioner said they don’t confiscate trucks, and the mayor’s office agreed.

According to Buttercream Cupcakes website:

“A few weeks before, the same inspector pulled me over in a city vehicle (not a police vehicle) and said that next time he saw me vending in University City, he would take the truck.

I explained that my map shows 33rd street as suitable for vending for “roaming” trucks like mine. They disagreed, and gave me a contact number for follow up. I followed up, heard there was no copy of the law online, no one would send me a copy of the law, and they are “not allowed” to tell me where I can vend. They would just come get me when I broke the law again.

A cop car with 3 officers arrived to supervise the taking of the truck. Despite the line full of confused students…  they left me on the side of the road with no ride. I walked most of the way home. Then I had some beers.

I was told if I want to go to University City, I will need to amend the laws via the city counsel.”

Carrara says she paid $200 to get the truck back and it was back on the streets today at Love Park.  My guess is that this brief confiscation is going to give the Buttercream Cupcake Truck a big boost in business and sales, so maybe this was a blessing in disguise.

The cupcake menu includes Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting, Banana Cake with Nutella Buttercream, Yellow Cake eith Peanut Butter Buttercream, Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Buttercream…. And the list goes on!

You can check out her schedule of stops here or just follow her on Twitter!