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Welcome back to Eater News, a semi-regular round-up of mini news bites. Have info to share? Email intel to seattle@eater.com.
Cupcake Royale Reopens with CBD Frosting Special
After being closed for a month, Cupcake Royale — the popular dessert chainlet with five locations in the Seattle area — has recently reopened for takeout and delivery, while debuting a new treat. The bakery is now serving buttercream frosting with CBD, available on cupcakes and in pint form through April 30 (18+ only). Cupcake Royale says the product, called “I Can’t Believe It’s Not POT Buttercream,” made with the non-intoxicating chemical from the cannabis plant, was “six years in the making.” Owner Jody Hall founded a company that produces edibles, so this seems like a natural fit (especially on 4/20). According to Capitol Hill Seattle, the sweet shop also recently received a loan from the federal Payroll Protection Program, and the bakery’s CBD-infused reopening was partly powered by those funds, with an eye on how it will use the money down the line.
Life and Mars and Taurus Ox Victims of Vandalism
This weekend, two Capitol Hill businesses were the victims of vandalism. Life on Mars (the vinyl record-themed bar on E Pike St) posted a photo of its damaged storefront on Instagram, which it said someone hit with a bat. Not too far away on E Madison St, Laotian restaurant Taurus Ox found one of its windows broken by a brick (it’s unclear whether the two incidents are related). Life on Mars has been closed since Washington’s stay-at-home order in mid-March, while Taurus Ox is still open for takeout and delivery, but was closed temporarily this weekend when the vandalism occurred. Unfortunately, these incidents seem to be getting all too common, as International District dim sum spot Jade Garden has also dealt with damaged property recently. “Someone around here is not aware of the trouble small businesses are having during this crisis and decided we need one more issue to deal with,” Taurus Ox wrote on its Instagram page.
Fremont Brewing Donates to the Plate Fund
Acclaimed local beermaker Fremont Brewing is one of the latest local businesses to contribute to the Plate Fund, a recently-launched initiative that delivers $500 to restaurant workers in King County who either recently lost their jobs or had hours severely cut back during the coronavirus pandemic. The brewery says it’s donating one percent of gross profits from the sales of its Golden Pilsner, Space Danger, and soon-to-be-released Summer Ale to the cause. Last week, the Plate Fund announced it has raised a total of $6 million to date, and made one-time payments to more than 5,000 local workers.