BELLINGHAM – Katie’s Cupcakes, the Food Network award-winning cupcake bakery located in the Fairhaven area of town, will be closing the retail bakery portion of their business on July 12.

The children’s books and related products will continue to be sold online and in stores around the Puget Sound.

“We are extremely grateful to the wonderful support Whatcom County has provided us for over five years,” owner Katie Swanson said in a statement.  “We are very excited for the future of the Katie’s Cupcakes brand and look forward to having the time to devote more energy to the marketing of the third book in children’s series scheduled for release this fall.”

The bakery opened on St. Patrick’s Day in 2009, serving Guinness chocolate  cupcakes topped with an Irish cream frosting.

In October 2012, Katie’s Cupcakes won the season opening episode of the hit Food Network television show Cupcake Wars, using the $10,000 prize to launch a children’s book series based on the premise of the bakery, and the cupcakes inside of it, coming to life each night.

For customers looking for one last cupcake from Katie, the final day for special orders will be July 10th.