Levain Bakery, known for its big cookies, is celebrating the opening of its first Philadelphia location – a retail bakery and production space in the heart of Rittenhouse Square – on October 11, 2024.
The grand opening on October 11th begins at 8:00 am with a ribbon cutting, Philly-branded totes with free bakery swag for the first 100 guests, and celebrations that will run through the weekend. Levain Rittenhouse’s opening day proceeds will be donated to Broad Street Love, headquartered just a few blocks away. Broad Street Love’s mission is to restore dignity and increase self-sufficiency for individuals in Philadelphia impacted by deep poverty through a variety of stabilizing social services. Levain Bakery has donated opening day proceeds as an ongoing commitment to giving back to local communities and to be a force for good in each neighborhood they join.
Levain was founded in 1995 as a small bread bakery on the Upper West Side of Manhattan by Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald. The two best friends started baking six-ounce cookies with simple, high-quality ingredients as the ultimate post-race treat after training for triathlons and keeping a robust fitness regimen. After finalizing the recipe for their original Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie, they quietly offered the cookies for sale, and they flew off the shelf. Nearly 30 years later, the heritage brand’s famously crispy outside, gooey in the center, giant cookies have been lauded.
Levain Rittenhouse is located on Philadelphia’s bustling Walnut Street, a kismet location, given Levain’s original cookie – Chocolate Chip Walnut. The bakery inhabits a former bank, thoughtfully designed to retain original architectural elements, creating a one-of-a-kind bakery backdrop. The bakery’s look and feel, helmed by Sarah Carpenter, includes a mural designed and hand-painted by Tara Jacoby, a Philadelphia-based illustrator and art director. This mural, inspired by the original ceiling archways covered in art deco-inspired flourishes, features cookie-filled Easter eggs among iconic Philadelphia landmarks.
When it comes to bakery openings, Weekes and McDonald carefully seek out neighborhoods and communities that feel special and intentional and Levain Rittenhouse has been no different. The founders’ affinity and connection to the region, not to mention the city’s world-class restaurant scene, led them to choose Philadelphia as the newest home for Levain. The decision was further inspired by Levain team members who hail from Philadelphia, and the many beloved guests who have traveled from Philadelphia to experience a Levain bakery in other cities over the years.
“With each new bakery, we aim to be a true neighbor and member of the community. We love Rittenhouse and we are delighted the bakery is in the heart of Philadelphia,” said Pam and Connie, co-founders of Levain Bakery in a statement. “Rittenhouse has no shortage of delicious bakeries; we couldn’t be more excited to break bread…and cookies with our new neighbors.”
Levain Rittenhouse will offer the cookies in the bakery’s six classic flavors: Chocolate Chip Walnut (also available as gluten-free/vegan), Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip, Two Chip Chocolate Chip, and the newest Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip. Additionally, the seasonal Fall Chocolate Chunk, with flavors of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses is available on the opening line-up. The Rittenhouse bakery also offers coffee, an assortment of breads, loaf cakes, pastries, brioche, and weekend-only sticky buns – all baked in-house daily.
The Rittenhouse opening marks 15 locations for Levain, with bakeries across New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, Bethesda, and Boston. Levain Rittenhouse will offer local delivery via DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats as well as catering, featuring delicious cookie assortments, signature breads paired with spreads, morning goodies, and more. Philadelphia-specific merchandise will also be available.
