Popular downtown Huntington bakery, Paula Vega Cakes and Coffee Shop is debuting a seasonal cupcake for Valentine’s Day.

“It is a cupcake with strawberry buttercream icing topped with a chocolate-covered strawberry topping.” Paula Vega Cakes and Coffee Shop employee, Jordan Callahan, said.

The cupcake is called “Decadent Covered Strawberry” and is a limited-edition flavor on a very extensive menu traditionally enjoyed by customers around this time of the year.

The cupcake is available for in-store pickup and by order now through Valentine’s Day.

“Our brownie and dulce de leche, our French macarons and our raspberry almond cookies are our three best-sellers.” said Betti Peaks, a Paula Vega employee. “These are options that are not offered in every bakery, so they’re kind of unique to us.”

Peaks said the shop boasts its fresh cakes being made daily and never frozen as well as the shops creative array of flavor combinations, some of which are original.

“We are a local bakery, and we do a lot of charity work and support the community. We take a lot of pride in doing work in the local community and supporting other local businesses.” Peaks said. “All the small businesses around here are pretty good at doing that.”

Peaks said during the pandemic, it has been particularly important for local businesses to support each other.

“We get with other businesses and see how we can support each other, whether that’s putting coupons in

other businesses or posting about each other [on social media].” Peaks said.

Peaks said that the shop’s engagement with the Huntington community includes the Marshall University campus.

“We have a lot of Marshall students who come in.” Peaks said. She said the shop often helps students in the journalism school needing a business to talk to.

“A lot of students ask to volunteer and to help with things like advertising.” Peaks said.

Paula Vega Cakes and Coffee Shop is located at 308 9th St, Huntington, WV 25701.

Isabella Robinson can be contacted at [email protected].