PinkaBella Cupcakes continues to buck the small-business blues.

In a tough-love economic climate, the Redmond-based family-owned cupcake company is undergoing a rapid growth spurt and attracting tons of attention.

Even well-known Northwest chef Thomas Douglas is taking notice.

“Pinkabella’s gone wild,” said owner Margo Engberg, a Kirkland resident and mother of four.

PinkaBella, a gourmet dessert bakery which opened its first store in Redmond Town Center nearly two years ago, will be one of the featured vendors at Douglas’ Alley event at the Bite of Seattle this weekend at the Seattle Center. The Alley, located at the Alki Courtyard, is hosted by Douglas, who handpicks his vendors.

“This is a huge deal for us,” Engberg said. “This is such an honor.”

Admission to the Alley is $10 and 95 percent of all the proceeds go to Food Lifeline.

In preparation for the Alley, PinkaBella staff is making 1,800 mini triple chocolate cupcakes for Friday and another 2,800 for Saturday, Engberg said.

In addition, PinkaBella is making a birthday cake, along with 1,000 mini cupcakes for the Bite of Seattle’s 30th anniversary party on Friday.

Engberg and her staff have also been busy preparing for Friday’s opening of the new American Girl store at the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood. Engberg said PinkaBella will be the exclusive cake vendor for the new American Girl store.

She said she is expected to make 35-50 cakes a week for the store’s celebration package, which includes a doll and a birthday cake.

Engberg said she and her staff will pump out 50 cakes, along with 2,000 mini cupcakes in anticipation of the American Girl grand opening.

“It’s just crazy around here,” she said.

Engberg opened her Redmond store in October of 2009 and as her cupcake craze quickly caught on, she continued to open more stores. She opened her second location in Bellevue Square in June of 2010. Most recently, she opened a store in the outdoor Village at Adlerwood Mall and about two months ago she bought out Wink Cupcakes in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood and opened up a fourth PinkaBella location there.

PinkaBella won the title of “Best Desserts” in the Best of Western Washington competition for King 5’s Evening Magazine. She is also a finalist for “Best Bakery” in this year’s Best of Redmond contest by the Redmond Reporter.

“Pinkabella has really taken off and remember it all started here,” she said. “We just love it here in Redmond.”