Friday is for Cookie Walk

Feb. 1—Sure, the first Friday of the month means extended evening hours at many downtown shops, but it's easy to think of other things happening Friday in Meadville...

Ah, who cares about other things? Friday is for Cookie Walk and, to borrow a phrase from a well-known and very blue Sesame Street resident, "That's good enough for me."

The results of last year's First Friday Cookie Walk suggest the event, which features 17 cookie-distributing organizations spread across 10 downtown locations from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, is more than good enough for plenty of others, too.

Despite snow-covered sidewalks, blustery conditions and a steady temperature of about 12 degrees, the 2023 edition drew hundreds of participants — so many that some cookie lovers left participating stores empty-handed.

"Last year was the first year we went above and beyond in our promotion for the event," said Victoria Dickson, president of Meadville Independent Business Alliance, which has held the walk since 2019. "It shocked us that we ran out of boxes and cookies."

This year, approximately 3,400 cookies will be available for participants willing to trek to each collection location on or within easy walking distance of Chestnut Street.

A short trip down Market Street to Indigo Boutique & Botanica is likely to provide a high level of cookie bang for the exertion: Four organizations will be distributing cookies inside.

Among those at Indigo will be one first-time Cookie Walk participant who knows a thing or two about cookies and has a particular predilection for peanut butter.

Stephanie Consla, owner of Grammy Stephie's Bakery, 813 Water St., will be ready with 200 triple peanut butter cookies: peanut butter cookies loaded with peanut butter chips and miniature Reese's Pieces.

Consla's bakery has also prepared orders of 200 for five other cookie flavors, including raspberry thumbprint, PB&J thumbprint and snickerdoodle.

That's 1,200 cookies overall — on top of the regular cookies that stock the cases and the usual amount of outside orders — and preparing 1,200 cookies from scratch is just as much work as it sounds.

But not to worry, cookie lovers: "We've got it under control," Consla said.

Still, after the preparation, it will be nice to turn the ovens off a little early and head to Indigo.

"I've never gone down and done the Cookie Walk before because I bake my own cookies," said Consla, who purchased the former Kristen's Kookies and opened her rebranded bakery in November. "I'm looking forward to meeting lots of people and hopefully getting some more business in here — people that haven't heard of me yet."

Michelle Orrndorf, the Vision Source Meadville billing specialist leading the walk's organizing committee this year, saw that scene playing out firsthand last year.

"It was an incredible event, and it was so encouraging to see so many people in the community coming through the local shops," Orrndorf recalled. "Some were visiting the shops for the very first time, which is part of the point of what we're trying to accomplish — to get people into our business stores and to show off our small town."

Several new businesses will be participating, according to Orrndorf, including some located even farther outside the immediate walk area than Grammy Stephie's, such as Black Bear Hemp Dispensary, which will also be among the cookie distributors inside Indigo. Other highlights include giant chocolate chip cookies offered by ONE Federal Credit Union, 868 Park Ave., in honor of the organization's 75th anniversary in business.

With Meadville amid its mildest winter in years, the stage could be set for a cohort of cookie hounds even larger than last year's to hit the streets on the hunt for the crumbly treats they love.

The ripple effects of the 2023 Cookie Walk are still being felt, and steps have been taken in case a similarly monstrous turnout occurs this year: For the first time, participants must pay a $5 fee.

Participants must pay the "cover charge" at the Market House, where they can also pick up the official cookie containers to present at each stop on the walk in order to receive cookies, Dickson said. Families are limited to one box each, and the first-come, first-served rush for the 200 available containers begins precisely at 5 p.m. Participating organizations will likewise have 200 cookies to hand out, making the official containers all the more essential.

"We ran out last year, and we ran out real quick, not anticipating the participation," Dickson said. Previous years had drawn fewer than 100 participants, she added.

Unlike some of the buoyantly fluffy sweet treats available in years past, the decision to implement a cover charge for the formerly free event did not come lightly — no, it was weighty like the densely packed flavors of the monster cookies that have become a staple of the event.

Dickson was optimistic that the fee would not prove prohibitive for participants and would be seen as an acknowledgment that the event involves an investment on the part of participating businesses.

"It's a good faith gesture so that people understand there's a cost associated with it," Dickson said. "It's supporting the businesses that support your baseball teams, your fundraisers, gift baskets and all those things."

YOU CAN GO

The First Friday Cookie Walk takes place Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The event begins at the Market House and includes 17 participating organizations spread over 10 downtown locations. Official event cookie containers are required to participate and can be purchased for $5 at the Market House beginning at 5 p.m. Friday. Containers are first-come, first-served and must be purchased with cash. Cookie Walk participants will receive a map of participating locations when they purchase their containers. Other First Friday activities at participating downtown shops are open to all visitors.

Mike Crowley can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at mcrowley@meadvilletribune.com.