Coastal Cupcakes won't be serving up its trademark treats for retail customers after the end of December, according to its owner Kristen Beckmeyer.

In a telephone call Wednesday, Beckmeyer said that her newest venture, taking Coastal Cupcakes' popular frostings into grocery stores, is monopolizing her time these days and she can't manage both aspects of her business. Topsee Tulip Frosting, already in 17 Lowes Foods stores as well as in Tidal Creek Cooperative, Roberts Grocery and Whole Foods stores here and in Chapel Hill, keeps getting bigger.

"Topsee Tulip is blowing up," Beckmeyer said Wednesday. "We just got into three more Whole Foods stores yesterday. Topsee Tulip has national possibilities and I want to jump in while it's hot."

The owner emphasized that, while the Wrightsville Ave. Coastal Cupcakes store will close indefinitely at the end of December, the bakery will retain its downtown location and will continue to produce a variety of cupcakes for wholesale, and for special events, parties and special orders. But, after December, the store will be open by appointment only.

"Coastal Cupcakes LLC is not dissolving," she said.

Wholesale cupcake orders will remain in operation, gift certificates will be honored, and all orders already placed will be filled, Beckmeyer said.  In addition, Coastal Cupcakes will continue to contribute donations to and participate in local community causes and events.

Starting Thursday, both locations will run a 25-percent-off special for everything already in the shop. Beckmeyer said that Coastal Cupcakes may do occasional pop-ups, when the store will be open for a day or for a special occasion.

Topsee Tulip Frostings, which have won a large fan base among Coastal Cupcakes customers, have real butter and real cream cheese. They do not contain partially hydrogenated soybean or cottonseed oils, dyes or preservatives.