The sweet arrival of Craig’s Cookies
The beloved Toronto bakery is opening locations in Hamilton and Burlington this summer, bringing its vast flavour selection and out and proud approach to Locke and Brant streets.
Locke Street is about to get a lot sweeter. In July, the neighbourhood’s beloved Donut Monster and Bitten will be joined by another tasty treat shop: Craig’s Cookies.
And the city is welcoming the new bakery with open arms.
“The outpouring of love that we've gotten on social media from Hamilton, and specifically other businesses on Locke Street, welcoming us to the neighbourhood has been such a beacon of respectful business practices,” says Craig Pike, founder of the Toronto-based bakery. “It's not, ‘Oh no, there's another dessert place arriving.’ It's this real feeling (of) ‘The more, the merrier.’”
It’s no surprise Pike’s feeling the love in Hamilton: Craig’s Cookies has amassed a cult following around Ontario. The recipe for its success is sweet and simple: take a classic chocolate chip cookie and skillfully combine it with everyone’s favourite childhood treats. From Mars bars, Skor and Snickers to Mini Eggs, Cherry Blasters and Pop-Tarts, there are more than 75 indulgent and fun cookie flavours that keep fans coming back for more.
Pike’s cookie empire started in 2013 when the actor was living in Toronto and faced a month without work. To make some extra cash, he decided to bake his mom’s famous chocolate chip cookies and deliver them via bicycle to friends around the city. In the first year, he sold 200 dozen cookies. Five years later, he opened his first brick-and-mortar location in Parkdale. Today, Craig’s Cookies has four shops in Toronto (and another opening at Union Station in June), two in Niagara, one in Collingwood, one in his hometown of St. John’s, Nfld. and now, a shop in Hamilton and another in Burlington. There are also plans for another six locations in southwestern Ontario slated for 2024.
Growing up queer in Newfoundland, Pike says he faced a lot of bullying growing up. So it was important to him that all his stores were an inclusive and safe space for everyone.
“I [feel] like I have a responsibility to let my business be a reflection of who I am,” says Pike. “One of the best parts of owning Craig's Cookies is bringing people together, not only great workers and great team members, as far as letting people be seen and feeling safe [in] the workplace, but also bringing community members together in the space where they feel like they're just going into the grandmother's home to get a cookie. The only difference is that they have to pay for it before they leave.”
To celebrate the first Pride at his original location in Parkdale, Pike decided to paint a rainbow across the entire building.
“I had been in New York about a month prior. I'd never been to New York and I remember walking by a space that had a Pride flag outside of their bar, and it was the first time I had a feeling of safety in a foreign space, in a new city. I felt like I would be safe there: because they have a Pride flag, that's somewhere that I can go. So I had this building. [And I thought] “How do I create a space where people know they can feel comfortable going in?” So I thought, let's just paint the whole building. Let's not stop at a flag.”
Though Pike has no formal training in baking or business, he’s managed to create irresistible products and a powerful brand championing inclusion and acceptance that resonates deeply with his customers.
“I had no idea I was building a brand. I literally needed to bake cookies to pay my rent. And as a result of making choices of pink boxes and tying [them] up with string and painting my first shop with rainbows during Pride, little did I know what I was doing was building community and a brand, and it's one of the greatest things,” Pike says.
“So it's really exciting to move into a new area like Hamilton and to be able to share Craig Cookies with a whole new community.”
Both Burlington and Hamilton locations will be managed by Craig’s Cookies superfan and Burlingtonian Karin Stock, who brings 10 years of retail experience with some of Canada’s largest brands to the role. Craig’s Cookies will open at 188 Locke St. S. in August. The Burlington location at 501 Brant St. opened July 6.
