Cupcake truck hits island speed bumps

Cupcake crisis: Just when it looked as if the city would revoke Emily Giffin’s permit to sell cupcakes by the sea, there’s hope of compromise. City officials informed Giffin last week she was violating island ordinances by selling cupcakes from a truck on the seawall. They told Giffin her permit would be revoked, she said.

What’s the problem? City officials told Giffin they had given her business, Little Miss Cupcake, a permit with the understanding she was selling confections from a trailer, not a truck, she said. But Giffin said city officials knew all along she was selling from a truck. It’s also unclear what difference it makes. Giffin doesn’t drive the truck around to sell cupcakes, rather she parks it at 4800 Seawall Blvd. on a lot for which she pays rent.

Giffin spoke of her troubles Thursday at a Galveston City Council meeting. On Friday, she got a call from Planning Director Wendy O’Donohoe, who said Giffin would not yet have to stop selling cupcakes from her truck, Giffin reports. O’Donohoe told Giffin she would work with her to sort out the issues.

“I was very happy,” Giffin said. “She even stated the ordinances were old and confusing.”

Giffin’s effort to open a business on the island has been no piece of cake. In December, she was frustrated to learn she couldn’t operate a year-round business from her pink truck. Mobile operations — even if they are parked — can operate on the island only from March through October. The ordinance is meant to protect island businesses from temporary vendors. Giffin, who modeled her business after wildly popular ventures, including Hey Cupcake! in Austin, complied with the rules and opened in March, operating Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Sales have been strong, she said. Stay tuned.

On board: In cruise news you can use — especially if you like to plan way ahead — Royal Caribbean International intends to replace Voyager of the Seas with its newer, slightly larger Mariner of the Seas. Beginning November next year, Mariner of the Seas will offer two round-trip, seven-night Western Caribbean itineraries through April 2012, Port of Galveston officials report.

Mariner of the Seas, built four years after Voyager of the Seas, is one of the world’s 10 largest cruise ships. The vessel, which made its maiden voyage in 2003, is 1,020 feet long and weights 138,000 tons. It can accommodate 3,114 passengers and features a rock-climbing wall, basketball court, skating rink and nine-hole miniature golf course. Ships of both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines sail from the island.

Capital idea: Island barbecue purveyor Capital Q has opened a patio bar with a Gulf of Mexico view. The eatery, 1228 Seawall Blvd., has big plans for May, including a Cinco de Mayo party, a Galveston Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony and an all-day crawfish boil May 7, reports managing partner Ray Herrera.

Capital Q, which serves barbecue cafeteria style, opened last summer in the building formerly occupied by Nate’s Steakhouse. The island spot makes two. Capital Q in Washington, D.C., has quite a following, catering inaugural festivities for George W. Bush in 2000 and also a White House farewell for the former president.

Biz birthday: Has it really been a year? Business partners Vic Matthews and Mike Putnal (a former captain with the Galveston Police Department) are marking the anniversary of their Russo’s New York Pizzeria franchise in the League City Town Center, on the southeast corner of Interstate 45 and FM 646 (in front of the Super Target).

To celebrate, the eatery has rolled out a $5 lunch special, other daily specials and 99 cent beer and wine specials, they report.

New York Pizzeria, a franchise created by Anthony Russo, is famous for brick oven pizza by the slice or the pie. But the eatery also is known for salads, pasta dishes, Italian entrees and desserts.

The League City site is the second New York Pizzeria for Galveston County, the first being at 500 Seawall Blvd. on the island.

Mart makeover: Notice all the work at Dickinson Food Mart, FM 517 and FM 646? Crews have begun construction of a 14,000-square-foot building, valued at about $800,000, to replace a gas station and convenience store, economic development officials report.

The new building will include about 9,000 square feet of retail lease space.

Biz Buzz appears Tuesdays and Thursdays.