When the first Magnolia Bakery opened on a quaint cobblestone corner in New York City’s West Village in the summer of 1996, it was a simple neighborhood shop selling classic American baked goods.
The sweet scent of cakes, cookies, pies, and pudding tumbled through the quiet streets, but it was the bakery’s appearance in Sex and the City in 2000 that officially catapulted it to stardom.
Three decades later, the brand has over 40 locations worldwide and shows no signs of slowing down. Now, the iconic bakery is bringing its famous treats to Staten Island for the first time ever, marking its first franchise location in New York State.
What was the opening like in 1996?
Founded by Jennifer Appel and Allysa Torey, the original store on Bleecker Street was meant to be a cute corner bakery where locals could grab coffee and a muffin.
Amidst the polish and precision of 1990s culinary affairs, which favored tall “French Nouveau” desserts, Magnolia’s nostalgic authenticity immediately stood out, according to ABC7. Customers would line up for hours waiting for a fresh batch of red velvet cupcakes or banana pudding.
However, it was the bakery’s 2000 cameo in Sex and the City that officially kicked off the global “cupcake craze” and turned the quaint storefront into a massive tourist hot spot.
From one small bakery to over 40 locations worldwide
Behind the brand’s continued longevity was a strategic pivot toward a sleeper-hit product: banana pudding.
What started in small batches has seen an over 6,000% increase in sales since opening, now driving 30-40% of total sales across U.S. retail locations, according to ABC7. It was even crowned the #1 sweet in the country by Food Network earlier this year!
Fourteen years after its launch, in 2010, the bakery expanded to the Upper West Side and Los Angeles, followed by its first international shop in the Dubai Mall.
In 2025, the brand officially began franchising across the United States, awarding its first franchise in Salt Lake City, Utah. Today, the bakery operates 11 locations in New York alone, with international reach spanning from India to Türkiye.
Magnolia Bakery’s first-ever Staten Island location opens November 3, 2026
The newest chapter brings the magic to New Dorp, Staten Island.
Owned by Staten Island local and native, Ereny Ghobrial, the new location will officially open on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, right between Aldi and Planet Fitness in the Hylan Common shopping center. Ereny stated:
Magnolia Bakery is a brand synonymous with New York, and I’m excited to bring it to a new borough with our Staten Island opening. So many members of our community already know and love Magnolia Bakery, and we’re excited to bring it a little closer to home.
A grand opening celebration will take place at 10 am, bringing world-famous banana pudding, cakes, and whimsical delights a little closer to home for the Staten Island community.
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