Who would put pepper on a cupcake? Or pork cracklins?
Tabitha Meready does.
She opened The Peppered Cupcake in December with not-your-average cupcakes. Her first cupcake was based on her aunt’s recipe for a savory appetizer spread with cream cheese, preserves and horseradish topped with pepper — hence came the name.
“I just had to do something that was almost taboo,” Meready said.
She began running a business out of her home in 2008 — then later through a commercial kitchen — baking sweet and savory cupcakes and delivering them to restaurants and gourmet shops in Greenville, New Bern, Emerald Isle and as far as Wilmington.
With gas prices sky-high, Meready found an opportunity to open a shop here in her hometown. Besides cupcakes like maple and bacon or sweet potato with pork cracklins, the shop sells coffee, cappuccinos, lattes and a few other items.
“I always wanted to be in the front line of the coffee thing,” Meready said.
Her idea to bake cupcakes came when she was avidly networking with other business professionals — this is her third business venture. At one of those events, she met some ladies who provided cupcakes.
She had read the book “The Purple Cow” by Seth Godin, which emphasizes transforming a business by standing out from competitors. She gave it some thought and came up with the unusual cupcakes.
The idea spread faster than cake batter when she hit the Internet with her flavorful little cakes. People have learned about her cupcakes and make a point to stop in Kinston, Meready said. They are curious and when they find something unusual, they tell others about it, she added.
“I’ve learned I’ve become a destination,” she said.
Her business partner, Shannon Foster, helps out in the kitchen and manages the business end of the shop, Meready said.
The Peppered Cupcake, 900 Oriental Ave., is open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For information, call 252-686-6910 or visit thepepperedcupcake.com.
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First Citizens Bank is sponsoring a Community Shred Event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 19 at 607 Plaza Blvd. A Cintas Document Management truck will destroy unwanted sensitive materials free of charge for all area residents.
This is the second year for the event, said Bill Whaley, First Citizens’ market executive in Kinston.
“It was a very successful event,” he said about last year’s shred event, “where folks could drive up with their cars.”
Elderly folks or those with disabilities can drive up and get assistance with unloading old documents such as ATM receipts, checks, tax information, credit card statements, copies of bills, mail and other papers containing personal information.
Dry paper only will be accepted (no plastics, media tapes or cardboard). There is no need to remove staples, paper clips and other bindings, and colors do not have to be separated. All materials should be in boxes and containers for quick and easy disposal.
Destroying documents by shredding them into unrecognizable pieces is the safest way to dispose of unwanted materials and provides greater protection against identity theft crimes.
“At First Citizens Bank, one of our highest priorities is protecting our customers’ personal information,” Whaley said. “We want to help all residents safeguard their vital information.”
Bank associates will be on hand to provide information about protecting personal information and offer light refreshments to attendees. A drawing will be held for a home paper shredder. The event will be held rain or shine.
For more information, contact the First Citizens Kinston Plaza office at 252-939-3066 or 252-939-3011.
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For tax day, Monday, Sears Hometown Store at Vernon Park Mall will be offering discounts on appliances, tools, vacuums, fitness equipment, patio accessories, grills, mattresses, air conditioners, power lawn and garden items and electronics.
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Also for tax day, look for special deals and coupons for area retail outlets and restaurants at dealnews.com/features/tax-day-freebies/. Arby’s, Subway, Chili’s and Office Depot are some of the businesses that will be offering specials on or around April 15.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
Do you have a new retail business or one that’s undergone a significant change? The Free Press would like to hear about it. Contact Margaret Fisher at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.