Wayne Allen | Daily Times

Alyssa Logan (left) and Julie Blackburn (right) take orders for cupcakes from their Lucasville shop.

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Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

Coming off their recent win on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” Alyssa Logan, of Dayton, and her mother Julie Blackburn, of Otway, opened ‘83 Sweets in a new temporary location inside Ruby’s Diner in Lucasville, with limited hours. This marks the second location of the business, with the first being located in Dayton.

“We opened Thursday and the response from this community has been wonderful and have sold-out everyday,” Blackburn said.

She said when they opened the doors on Thursday they were busy all day to the point where they couldn’t put signs out.

“On Thursday we sold-out and we did it again today (Friday),” Blackburn said. “We likely sold about 400 cupcakes thus far.”

She said every time they sell out it amazes her.

“This tells me there has been a tremendous need for a bakery around here,” Blackburn said. “We’ve been making ourselves know around the community doing fundraisers and we’ve had an online business for about three years.”

The new location in Ruby’s Diner is only temporary, Blackburn said, and around the first of the year they hope to be in their own building. The mother-daughter duo have appeared on “Cupcake Wars” twice, and on their last appearance they won.

According to the Food Network website, “each week on Cupcake Wars, four of the country’s top cupcake bakers face off in three elimination challenges until only one decorator remains. The sweet prize: $10,000 and the opportunity to showcase their cupcakes at the winning gig. Candace Nelson (owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes) and Florian Bellanger (chef and co-owner of online macaroon company MadMac) serve as permanent judges with a third rotating judge each week.”

In their first episode, which aired in July, the challenge was to promote the Tony Hawk Foundation Skate Park. Even though the judges enjoyed their carob cake with a sunflower butter frosting and a sweet avocado filling, the local team did not win. But that wasn’t the end for Blackburn and Logan. Just days before the episode aired, they were invited back to compete again. The featured guest on their return episode was pop singer Cody Simpson, and the challenge was to promote his new album. This time they came home with a win, and business has been booming ever since.

The hours of operation of their Lucasville location are Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Blackburn said it already looks like the hours are going to be expanded due to increasing demand.

For more information about ‘83 Sweets, visit them online at www.83sweets.com or on Facebook.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.