Levain Bakery facts for kids
Front of New York City store
|
|
| Founded | 1995 in Manhattan, New York City |
|---|---|
| Founders | Constance McDonald and Pamela Weekes |
| Owners | Constance McDonald and Pamela Weekes |
Levain Bakery is a popular bakery that first opened its doors in 1995. It's famous for its super big and delicious cookies! The very first store is located in Manhattan, New York City, on the Upper West Side.
Over the years, Levain Bakery has grown quite a bit. They opened a second spot in Wainscott, which is in the Hamptons on Long Island. Later, another store opened in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan.
Since 2017, even more locations have popped up in New York City. You can find them on the Upper East Side, in NoHo, and in Williamsburg. In 2020, Levain Bakery opened its first store outside of New York. This new location is in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.. In 2023, they opened a store in Los Angeles, California.
How Levain Bakery Started
Levain Bakery was created by two friends, Constance McDonald and Pamela Weekes. When they first opened in 1995, they wanted to sell many kinds of fresh, handmade breads. These were special breads, often called "artisanal" because they were made with great care.
However, the bakery soon became super well-known for one special item. This was their huge, 6-ounce chocolate chip walnut cookie! It quickly became a favorite for many people.
The Story Behind the Famous Cookie
Constance and Pamela came up with the idea for their signature cookie while they were training for an Ironman Triathlon. This is a very tough race that includes swimming, biking, and running long distances. They needed a lot of energy to keep up with their training.
They decided to make a traditional chocolate chip cookie, but much, much bigger. The giant 6-ounce cookie gave them the energy they needed. It was so good that it became the most popular item at their bakery! Many other bakeries have even tried to copy their famous recipe.
In 1998, Levain Bakery started sending their cookies through the mail. This meant people from all over could enjoy their delicious treats, even if they couldn't visit a store.
