Crumbs Bake Shop is opening a cupcake boutique at the Burlington Mall

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

Crumbs, a publicly traded retailer of what it describes as outsized gourmet cupcakes, is getting ready to open a shop at Burlington Mall next week.

The official opening is set for Thursday, Aug. 16, said the New York-based chain, which seems to approach the cupcake the way that Ben & Jerry’s approach ice cream, and at a time when the cupcake seems to be the darling of the dessert trolley, maybe that’s not a bad idea.

To Crumbs, a cupcake isn’t simply a humble mixture of flour, eggs, milk, and sugar --- it’s also a versatile delivery platform that can be conveniently accessorized with drizzles, frostings, and add-ons such as M&M’s, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Malt Balls, and Gummy Bears.

According to a company press release, a cupcake that includes two mix-in options will sell for $4.50.

Besides 75 different kinds of cupcakes, Crumbs offers cookies, breakfast pastries, and beverages.

The first Crumbs bake shop opened in March 2003 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.The chain currently has 51 locations, including 33 locations in the New York Metro area, six locations on the West Coast; five locations in Washington, D.C; one location in Virginia; five locations in Chicago; and one location in Boston.

The Boston store was opened on Federal Street in March, Crumbs president and chief executive Julian R. Geiger noted in a statement.