By Tracy Zwick
Magnolia Bakery’s CEO and CBO (Chief Baking Officer) Bobbie Lloyd has lived on the Upper West Side for nearly 30 years. Yesterday, in UWS Weekend, I mentioned that I’d be at the iconic bakery’s neighborhood location (200 Columbus Avenue at West 69th Street) stocking up on seasonal strawberry cupcakes and pudding this weekend. The author of “The Magnolia Bakery Handbook” answered a few questions about her own weekend plans and some of her favorite things about the UWS for the occasional WSR column Why the West Side (I’m a guest columnist this week, standing in for Eileen Katz).
Why the Upper West Side?
I was that New Yorker that said I was never going to live above 23rd Street! Then I met my now-husband who lived on 83rd just off CPW. Once I started staying with him, I was smitten with the park and the small-town feel of the neighborhood. Our kids went to school a block away; the post office, dry cleaner, grocery store and everything I needed was within walking distance, and everyone was so kind. I opened my first business “It’s a Wrap” in 1997 on 69th and Broadway, and then Magnolia’s location at 69th and Columbus in 2008.
Tell one secret or surprising thing about Magnolia Bakery.
We have amazing cheesecakes! Most people think of cupcakes and banana pudding when they come to Magnolia, but cheesecakes are a big seller. We also use an incredible single-origin chocolate from Ecuador.
What’s your schmear?
I just discovered PopUp Bagels on Columbus Avenue. Their bagels are great, but for a real NY-style deli bagel with scallion cream cheese and tomato, my go-to is Absolute Bagels on Broadway between 107th and 108th.
Pick a Park
There is no other park than Central Park. I raised my kids in a brownstone across the street from Central Park and we spent every day there. It’s awesome for running too.
Citibike, cab or subway?
I always prefer to walk. I love the UWS and walking gives me a chance to see what’s going on, like the WSR’s “Openings & Closings.” If it’s raining I’ll take the subway.
Your headline “Openings & Closings”?
For openings, Casasalvo, which just debuted on Amsterdam Avenue between 82nd and 83rd – they have incredible pastries and sandwiches. A place I miss that closed is CPW, the women’s clothing boutique where I got half my wardrobe. Where can a girl shop now?
Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever found on the curb?
My husband, who’s Italian, calls it “Italian shopping”. When we first got married, we found a few pieces of amazing furniture on the curb – a solid wood antique dresser & a pair of old metal candlesticks.
What’s your slice joint? Toppings?
There is nothing better than Mama’s Too on Broadway between 105th and 106th. It’s the best pizza in NY for me. I’m from Chicago and love a good deep dish pie. Mama’s Too is a cross between a traditional NY thin crust and a Chicago-style deep dish. It’s more of a focaccia crust. The toppings are incredible.
Weekend Wishlist: What are you looking forward to this weekend?
Baking, cooking, and working in my garden upstate.
New Yorker, New York Magazine, or New York Times?
I love the Sunday NYT. A big cup of coffee and the Sunday Times is my favorite way to spend a weekend morning.
Cake or pie?
I love my carrot cake. It’s the best cake you will ever have!
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Ever since billionaire Trump-supporter Stephen Ross bought Magnolia Bakery in 2021, I (sadly) stopped patronizing them. Can’t have it both ways . . .
It’s worse than that. Having not only been a customer for over a decade, but having worked there for over 5 years, I can tell you that since Vornado’s Stephen Roth bought the company, EVERYTHING has gone down; the quality, the selection, and most of all the customer service/hospitality, which I find almost nil, if not worse, at this point, particularly at the Columbus location.
When I worked there, the staff really CARED about the place and its product; it was not just a paycheck. Now, for most employees, it is just a paycheck and the atmosphere of love and REAL care of the company and its product has all but disappeared.
This is separate and apart from the way in which I was treated toward the end of my tenure, and the fact that the company escaped a multi-million dollar lawsuit by the skin of its teeth.
Of course you can. If “the big guy” lecturing us on morality can cut side deals with foreign nations for his well-adjusted offspring, you can certainly have a cupcake from the big bad billionaire-trumpist without too much guilt.
Nice interview, thank you. Surprised to read that Ms. Lloyd owned Its a Wrap (where Zizi’s is now) – I still miss it after all these years.
I love West 83rd Street!! No wonder Bobbie Lloyd didn’t leave. But I’ll put in my vote for 83rd and Riverside Park. I can spend hours around there. Great interview!
Love love magnolia bakery.
What do you think of HMart?
What do you buy at HMart?
Nice interview — I do miss Eileen Katz however!
If Ms. Lloyd reads this, can I put in a plea to carry the lemon vanilla Bundt cake? It would pop up occasionally in the Village, but I’ve never seen it at UWS store- it is so good next level.
WSR transit choice: Citibike, cab or subway?
What about bus?
Real New Yorkers take the bus🙂
Lol! Great questions! I love them all. I also have been up here for a little over 30 years. I love the curbside finds one
Delightful interview. Good intel on Magnolia’s cheesecake.
Iconic neighborhood location?
It’s a former sushi place on Columbus. And Magnolia was NOT founded on the UWS, it was chainified here.
A while back, Magnolia started selling their products in plastic clamshells, I stopped buying them. Nothing says “homestyle” baking quite like a cupcake in a plastic clamshell. I prefer my baked goods without nano plastics and without destroying the environment.