One of New York’s Best Cookie Bakeries Considers Boston for Expansion

An always-crowded New York City bakery known for its massive cookies could eventually expand nationally, and its founders are considering three possible cities, including Boston. Levain Bakery is best known in New York City for its hefty six-ounce cookies that are almost unreasonably thick, best eaten warm for prime melt-in-your-mouth consistency.

The bakery is a mainstay: It opened on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in 1996, and since then it has been a prime destination, with New Yorkers and tourists alike queuing up for the now-iconic cookie, among other pastries and baked goods.

There are currently five locations in New York, including one in Montauk, plus another forthcoming location in New York’s NoHo neighborhood, and the bakery’s founders recently announced that Levain may expand outside of New York around 2020, with Boston, D.C., and Chicago “under consideration.”

Levain recently received investment from a private-equity firm called Stripes Group, which has a history of backing other industry brands like Blue Apron and Grubhub.

If Levain does eventually make its way to Boston, it will contend with the likes of several popular bakeries and chains that already have a foothold here, including the ever-growing local Tatte Bakery & Cafe and Flour Bakery groups; college-town cookie chain Insomnia Cookies; two other NYC imports, Milk Bar and Magnolia Bakery; and plenty of other sweet spots.

Stay tuned for any updates on potential Levain expansion beyond New York City.

Update, 10/7/21: Levain Bakery is coming to Boston’s Back Bay in early winter 2022.

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