Local Love: NoRa Cupcake.

There’s No Place Like NoRA: The Anti-Bakery Gourmet Cupcake Shop.

Definitely NOT your mother’s cupcake company, NoRA is a “new generation” bakery focused on artistic cupcakes with an emphasis on non-traditional recipes. Our menu features more than 100 flavors, many of which are elaborately decorated and stuffed with unique and unusual fillings. It’s what happens when a cupcake company is born in a bar.

 

The NoRA bakery and retail store is located at 700 Main Street in Middletown across the street from Eli Cannon’s Tap Room and just north of Rapallo Avenue (that’s North of Rapallo Avenue, NoRA, get it?!). Carrie Carella was a bartender at Eli’s with a passion for baking and local business. With Eli’s owner, Phil Ouellette as her partner, Carrie moved across the street and opened NoRA on New Year’s Eve day 2011.

 

The original, but short lived, plan for NoRA was to be equal parts cupcake and hot sauce, with half of the space dedicated to the bakery and the other half for Eli Cannon’s Trading Company. After just a few months, however, NoRA had taken off. The space originally intended for the Trading Company quickly morphed into The Little Shop of NoRA’s, and before long the Lil’ NoRA Cupcake Truck took to the streets.  The rest, as they say, is history.

We sell our cupcakes, chocolate covered Oreos, marshmallows, and we feature products from:

Carol Monnerat Artisinal Truffles (Old Saybrook, Old Lyme) 

Farm to Hearth breads and baked goods (Haddam) 

Bean and Leaf Coffee (New London)

Winding Drives Jellies and Jams (Woodbury)

Sleepy Moon Soaps (North Franklin)

Being a small business in Connecticut is difficult.  I have been blessed with an amazing staff so I feel ahead of the game in that aspect.  They care about the product, the brand, and our future!  I couldn't ask for more from them.  I am also very fortunate to have so much support from the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce who only want to see us succeed. Maintaining business with so many taxes in Connecticut is difficult nonetheless.  However, every day is interesting - whether it is in the store, setting up at an event, or selling cupcakes off the Lil' NoRA Cupcake Truck!  Every day - ADVENTURE!

(When asked if they participate in local events:)

YES YES YES!!!  We love to do the Pop-Up Markets at Hartford Denim Company every month and in New Haven at Trolley Square.  We also host a pop-up market every month- NoRA's First Thursdays.

 (You'll often find Nutmeg Collective members with goods on display there!)

NoRA Cupcake Company

700 Main Street

Middletown, CT 06457

860-788-3150

carrie@noracupcake.com

www.noracupcake.com

Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

Open Tuesday through Thursday 10am - 7pm, Friday and Saturday 10am - 10pm, Sunday 10am - 3pm

Closed on Mondays

(All images courtesy of NoRa's Instagram feed.)

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