Mark M.
Yelp
This bakery used to be a pale shadow of its former self. Now, it is a zombie bent on destruction. With new ownership I was hopeful they might improve a company that had seriously been in a free-fall from its glory days in the 70s-90s when it was the pride of the Twin Cities. And, I understood that with new ownership some changes were to be expected, and loyal customers should be patient, in hopes that a classic Grand Avenue business could remain a vital part of the neighborhood. But, at this point, should they go out of business I would cheer. We would be better off with some crackheads trying to re-sell Dollar Store cookies off of a cardboard box outside the empty storefront.
Let me use the cupcakes as a microcosm of what is wrong...
Wuollet used to be LEGENDARY for its cakes, especially their incredible buttercream. Had I been truly gluttonous, I might have ordered a fake birthday cake for a made-up aunt and asked for extra flowers just so I could gorge myself sick on it in private. But, being sensible, I would just order some of their incredible cupcakes, which while pricey, we just so damn good.
Today I went for the first time since the ownership changeover.
I find the cupcakes are now ten percent cheaper than they used to be...dropped from $3.75 to $3.35. Great? NO! Because the size has now dropped a full fifty percent! They were also in new flavors, but that certainly is the new management's prerogative. I was not thrilled with the selection, but as I was already there I figured I might as well purchase some.
Upon reaching home and inspecting them carefully, I could tell that "Toto, we are not at Wuollet's anymore." I kid you not: These are mass-produced, frozen cupcakes that one can buy from purveyors such as Sysco and US Foods. This is what one might expect from the Cub bakery. But you know what? At Cub you can get a half dozen cupcakes for what Wuollet is charging for two. And do you know what else? At Cub, they are FRESH! What I purchased today was dry and stale. I fully expect to be burping up dust any minute now. The frosting was certainly not Wuollet's legendary, rich buttercream. This crap tasted like it had as much butter in it that one might find in a cake at a Vegan lactose-intolerant cardiac patient's birthday party. This stuff would make Walmart brand frosting-in-a-can taste like it came from a French pastry chef.
Shame, new owners at Wuollets....SHAME! Change the bakery's name to something else, so that Great Grandpa Wuollet does not toss and turn in his grave. Why would you go to the trouble of purchasing an established business that was known for quality (even if it had gone down in recent years) and then dumb it down to this level? There are at least six other places on Grand Avenue alone where one can buy great, fresh baked goods; and countless other options all over the Twin Cities.
Well, like the man says: You can't go home again. I should have bought a vat of Wuollet Frosting before they turned over the keys.