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Business & Tech

She Makes Black-Bottom Betties By the Bay

Rosalina Ascolani and her sisters baked up the scrumptious plan for Coronado Cupcakery.

Name: Rosalina Ascolani.

Job: Co-owner, baker and operator at Coronado Cupcakery at the Coronado Ferry Landing.

The ingredients: This is what happens when you combine four sisters, a mother’s cupcake recipes, a passion for baking and a whole lot of sibling energy. Rosalina, 26, the oldest of four sisters, is co-owner of the Coronado Cupcakery with Monica, Giovanna and Lorena, and spends the most time at the shop, coming in as early as 5 a.m. each day to start baking the family's 23 varieties (plus or minus, it’s always changing) of cupcakes.

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Monica and Giovanna also work at the shop; Lorena recently moved to L.A. All contribute ideas, hours and skills to make it work. A brother, Jose, also pitches in.

The idea: Rosalina went to school back east and decided to come home (all four went to Coronado High) and open a bakery. One day she and Lorena were brainstorming at a coffee shop and came up with an idea for a name and a logo. The name, Crown City Cakes, evolved into Coronado Cupcakery. They decided on the simple idea of cupcakes and coffee and opened in 2009. Rosalina used a business plan model her father helped her with when she was 13.

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The cupcakes: All the cupcakes are named for women, and the drinks for men. Their cream-filled chocolate Mama Rosa honors their mother, who made cupcakes when they were girls. There’s also a Lemony Lorena, Mocha Monica and Giovanna Banana; Rosalina didn't feel comfortable having her name on one of the treats. The Black-Bottom Betty, with cheesecake and chocolate chips, is the No. 1 seller.

Growth: They now do ornate cakes and cupcake towers for weddings and parties, and have added cookies, muffins, cups, T-shirts and aprons to their store.

Against the tide: The bakery has survived despite the recession. “People aren’t spending as much for big things,” explains Rosalina, “but they’re treating themselves to indulgences.”

Calories? What calories? Rosalina, Monica and Giovanna say they each eat about three cupcakes a day when they work, and not to test recipes either: They just succumb to the temptation.

Quotable: “It’s such a nice place (to have a shop),” says Rosalina. “You can’t help looking at the bay.”

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