Union General

This restaurant is a converted church? Please baptize me into the Holy House of Mac N Cheese!

Here’s the thing about the union general. I live in clarkston, and love this place but when it comes down to it, the cup cakes really are not that good. They are very dry and not flavorful at all but the frosting is out of this world and so are the macaroons and any of the other treats. This place is super cute and I love the décor and being that it is the only cup cake place around I will take it and still eat them.

I would’ve loved the opportunity to actually TRY the cupcakes here, thus provide a helpful review, but unfortunately I received the crappiest and snarkiest service, that I wasn’t able to do so.
My family and I had an AMAZING lunch at the Union Woodshop down the street, and they recommended the cupcakes here. As a cupcake connoisseur (used loosely), I decided I MUST walk down and grab a cupcake before we get back on the road back to Chicago. So we walked down to check it out.
I walked in and walked up to the counter to order. There was a girl with an icing bag in her hand. I asked her if I could get a Vanilla cupcake and she said «I’m busy right now. It’ll be a few minutes»… and i have to say, the TONE in which she said it was pretty effing snarky. I was a bit put off. We walked around in the little shop for a few minutes to check it out and try and kill some time. While looking around, I said to my Mom, «Was it just me, or we she really snarky in her response to me?», to which my Mother quickly replied «oooooh yeah», basically striking down ANY doubt I had in my head.
A few minutes later we walked back up to the front. She appeared to still be working on icing some cupcakes, so I asked her if it was going to be a while and she said «it’ll be at least five minutes». Again, in a seriously cranky and unapologetic tone. At that point I just told her never-​mind, i’ll do without, and left.
How hard is it to box up on flipping cupcake and get me on my way?! I mean, to have a customer wait ten minutes for one cupcake is beyond absurd. And her CLEAR annoyance with my even being there asking for a cupcake was very obvious.
If we had walked in, and she cheerfully said «Hey guys! Welcome! Give me like 5 minutes to finish something up and i’ll help you» — we would’ve been fine, and had given her time. But since she was so blatantly rude and un-​welcoming, AND didn’t give me confidence that five (more) minutes would only be five minutes, it just wasn’t worth it. I’d completely lost my interest in giving that place one red cent of my hard-​earned money.
So as far as i’m concerned, no way in hell i’d recommend this place. And the cupcakes? Couldn’t tell ya. I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to try one.
May karma bite you in your snotty little arse.

There are so many cute little gifts, from candles and soap to children’s toys and funny little key chains. Very unique.
They have many desserts including cupcakes, macarons, baby cakes, cookies and chocolates. I had the baby cake which is a mini chocolate cake with vanilla filling and it was the most perfect sized cake for one person. It was pretty yummy too!
The girls who work here are very nice and friendly. I would come back! It’s a perfect little coffee stop or dessert place.

When in Clarkston you must stop into the Union General, it reinvents itself for every holiday, it was all decked out for Easter, the selection of gifts and cupcakes is Amazing, and I picked up an Amazing book A sugar hounds guide to the Sweets of New York.

The Union General is a great place to come over to have a sweet or get an amazing item that will make you say wow! It sells cupcakes, toffee, popcorn, and lots of other sweets on one side. While on the other side… It sells soaps, Cards for celebrations or for a birthday celebration or what not and, toys like a 3-​d drawing kit and make your own solar powered robot and lots of other great toys that I never knew existed. The Union General is an all purpose gift shop that I think people should check into.

Did I tell you that I can be cheap? And that I am a major food snob? I am a cheap food snob people, and usually this means that I find it difficult to fork out $ 4 and up for a teeny tiny cupcake which are often dry, lacking in flavor and turn into a decision I typically end up regretting. I don’t have any issues paying money for something that is of good/​high quality and flavor, but most of the time cupcakes are not on that list. It appears that someone somewhere down the line decided that cupcakes are the new ‘It’ food, yet I have found myself unimpressed with most.
Now, that being said. After stuffing my face with some magnificent mac and cheese next door it only seemed fitting to end such a meal with a decadent dessert. As we walked in the door the ladybaker was whipping up cupcake batter in her KitchenAid, and putting a finishing touch on some other cupcake beauties she created earlier in the day. I love the small-​batch process that these baked goods are created in, this definitely gives the place a warm and fuzzy aura.
What’s unique is that the Union General captures two of my favorite types of stores: a store which sells nommy noms with a store which sells girly products such as soaps, books, candles and lotions. What a wonderful place to go shopping for a friends birthday or even to treat yourself to something nice. In our case, something nice was limited to a sweet ending to a great meal.
Erin opted for a red velvet cupcake, with a creamcheese frosting so velvety you’d think that that is where it got its name. Knowing it’s red velvet (which is inherently difficult to bake in regards to moisturelevels), the cake was every so slightly dry but it did not bother us much. The flavor was pronounced and not artificial or chemically at all (sorry, these are terms I must use because often red velvet tastes strongly of those). The cupcake is filled with more glorious frosting and was a total winner.
I chose a chocolate cupcake with salted caramel filling and a caramel buttercream which was pure decadence in a liner. Wow, what a great cupcake. I’d gladly have them turn this into a cake of some kind for any upcoming celebrations. Matter of fact, I even said something along the lines of ‘who needs a wedding cake when you can have awesome cupcakes like these?’.
I love how the Union General restored my faith in cupcakery. I will continue to be weary of other places but will happily drive way out to Clarkston for my cupcake fix.

I enjoyed the shopping experience here a number of years back. The items they sold were tasteful and unique. So, I was excited at the prospect of revisiting this store on Small Business Saturday, especially because I had a couple birthday gifts to buy. Before I left, I looked online to establish the store hours, but could find nothing. Expecting they might capitalize on SBS by opening early, I arrived at 9:45 AM. Not a soul inside the dark store. I walked around to the front, looking for an hours sign, but only found a sign proclaiming they were «Closed». I sat in my car until 10:02, hoping that would make a difference. Nope. I finally left, disappointed that this store apparently didn’t want my business. I understand that small businesses may not be trying to compete with their bigger brothers by opening at some unearthly hour, but is 9:00 AM to much to ask? How about 10:00? Next year hopefully I’ll find a different small business to shop at — one that values my business!

I’ve been here about three times in the last 10 years while visiting family, and I can tell you, this place is awesome! A good portion of the shop is definitely catered towards females, but I’m a male and I love looking through all the wacky/​cool stuff that fills the shelves. They have fine candles/​lotions/​soaps/​etc that are expensive but worth the buck (L’Occitane stuff is amazing!), and all kinds of really cool zany gifts and such.
And the cupcakery gets two thumbs WAY up. Everything on the menu is amazingly delicious. Ann, the owner, is regularly at the shop and is really awesome if you get the chance to meet her.

What a wonderful surprise!
I dragged my girl, Heidi M in here one day when were in Clarkston checking out the Union’s Oktoberfest. It was awesome but we were in a bit of a hurry and starving so we didn’t really plop ourselves down for that, but we did get to walk around a bit. I had no idea this shop existed and as soon as I saw it I had to go in.
Now, a word to the wise, if you’re sensitive to scents you might want to prepare yourself. This place is strong. Now me? I’m not. So I loved it. It smells of lovely candle, lotions, and other lovely body care and home items. They carry loads of lovely stationary, home goods like glasses, aprons, cookbooks, and more, and kids gifts as well. I’ve been to many a store in this same vein and you tend to see a lot of the things carried repeated from shop to shop but I have to admit Union General stocked a lot that I’d never seen, which I found really exciting and refreshing. I almost bought this amazing 3d tree display with birds and such but it was a little too big for the space I have at home. But I’d never seen anything like it in other shops. Excellent stuff.
In the back is the cupcakery with treats that looked fantastic. I abstained from eating one so I can’t comment on taste but they did look great. Next time!
Adorable selection of goods, albeit a little pricey, but perfect if you want to splurge on yourself or get a unique gift for someone else.

I dig this store big time. I walk in and they had this groovy francophile music jamming… bam I’m in an instant good mood. I am a sucker for botiques filled with nick nacks, brick a brack, and just random awesomeness. I would give this 4 stars… but it is pricey. From over the top cute baby items, bath bombs, frilly patterend aprons, lotus flower votive holders, jewels and bobels I was in heaven. They also had fresh grass scented laundry detergent… it’s been years and I am still lemming over this, but I am cheap and was not shelling out the cash. I also saw some really cool books (which I ordered from the library-​again budget issues) ie. 101 sangria and pitcher drinks, and a book on champagne cocktails. Get the cupcakes, esp. one with pb frosting. If there is a long wait at the union, stop in here. I have been dying to go back and I think I shall plan on it asap!

Excuse me whilst I slap myself in the face a few times. Blink. Blink. No, it’s true! There’s a cupcakery in the middle of nowheresville Michigan. After a depressing drive by several dilapidated buildings this Main Street attraction in Clarkston with it’s cheerful brick exterior made me literally stop in my tracks.
I went inside not expecting much of the Mid-​Mich establishment but lo and behold cute chalkboard signs and boutique gifts galore. I walked right up to a smiling face and ordered the Raspberry beret in vanilla to go.
In it went in it’s little Chinese take out box. 10 minutes later I cracked it open to taste a spoonful. Cream cheese frosting and thick almost chewy slightly sweet cake was in my mouth. Hmmm not bad. So I take another bite. And another. What is this center of raspberry cheesecake flavored goodness? Is that the frosting? Like a cupcake monster I devoured this fabulous little cake. If only I wasn’t 50+ miles away from here I’d get at least 5 lbs fatter on these.
P. S. There’s ice cream too!