Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 6/21/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield’s Hot Oven Cookies will continue to serve its dedicated customers at its new location, 1209 Parker St.
The business has officially closed its doors at 1512 Allen St., where Founder Sheila Coon moved to nearly three years ago. Prior to that, Hot Oven Cookies opened its first location in 2018 on Main Street.
According to Coon, the Parker Street location used to be a hair salon but has been vacant for some time. While renovations are being completed, Coon said they will be vending from the “cookie cart” outside.
“[We] can work out of the parking lot with the cookie truck so there is no gap in the service,” she shared.
At press time, Coon said she was still working out the logistics on where to park the truck, however, she is hoping to start selling out of the truck beginning the week of June 19. She noted that she was just waiting on approval.
When Coon found the Parker Street location, she said she was “pleasantly surprised” that the landlord would be putting in new walls, new ceilings and more. “They’re doing everything,” she said. “When they’re done, [we] can do our stuff.”
Other perks to the new location include cheaper rent, more street traffic and visibility.
Although Coon is not certain on the timeline, she said she is hoping for the renovations to be complete by the end of August. In the meantime, she assured that they will be supplying cookies out of the truck.
Hot Oven Cookies will have the same hours of operation which are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until sold out.
Coon said she will be posting weekly menus and will notify customers ahead of time if the truck will not be parked in the lot. The updates will be posted to Hot Oven Cookies’ Facebook and Instagram pages.
Amid change, the Westfield location will remain open.
“This is a learning curve for us,” Coon said. If it was not for the generosity of the new landlords, she noted that her family-owned business would have to be closed.
Coon expressed her adoration for the customers. When a “for lease” sign went up in front of the Allen Street location, she said, “People went bananas. The customers were worried [and] that touched our hearts.”
She continued, “Springfield has our heart. It’s home to us.”
According to the customers, Coon said they view her business as more than just cookies and she is “ecstatic” to continue bringing them the products they enjoy.
Coon went on to say that they are in the process to start expanding and are being “cognizant” with branding. By the end of the year, the goal is to open a shop in Northampton. Additionally, Hot Oven Cookies is looking to expand into Connecticut by 2024, she shared.
“Affordability will allow us to scale with ease,” Coon said.
Regardless of expansion, she noted that they are a microbusiness and will be staying in the area, all while evolving.
During this “gap season,” Coon encourages customers to pre-order by visiting hotovencookies.com.
“Cheers to the next three years,” she said.