Crumbl Cookies opens franchise in Bethel Park
Cookies for breakfast work for Dom Bielozer and Marco Wetzel of Bethel Park. Along with Stacey and Malana Wetzel, they were among the first customers sampling the treats offered during the grand opening of Crumbl Cookies.
At 8 a.m. April 21, the Utah-based franchise, with over 600 bakeries in 47 states, opened its fourth shop in the region in the Parkside Center, located at 2409 South Park Road.
“Amazing,” said Bielozer as the 12-year-old chomped on a mini chocolate chip cookie.
Marco Wetzel agreed. Then the 11-year-old added, “Incredible.”
The group had a six-pack to tide them over after a long day at Neil Armstrong Middle School. Dom had dibs on the Oreo Birthday Cake while the others shared from an assortment that included the original milk chocolate chip and classic pink sugar as well as two different types of shortbread items.
“It’s a treat,” said Heather Wagner of Jefferson Hills. “It is definitely not something we do weekly. But it’s definitely a nice treat for a party or special event.”
That’s exactly what Wagner had planned. She purchased a dozen for a “little” party her daughter had planned with friends.
“My daughter loves Crumbl Cookies, and this will be dessert,” said Wagner as she carried the sweets to the car in their signature pink box. “The girls are super excited to eat these cookies. They may even skip dinner.”
Crumbl Cookies serves up different flavors each week. The menu rotates.
In addition to cookie chip and the classic pink sugar, triple chocolate chip, buttermilk pancake, strawberry cupcake and cookies and cream milkshake were the featured items from April 24-29.
“We have 200 different types of cookies, but we only have six every week. We rotate them through,” said Melinda Shaha, owner of the Bethel Park franchise. “You have to wait for your favorite.”
While Shaha loves the cheero, a cinnamon and sugar cookie, South Hills resident Carrie Dunham and her friends, Maddie Kamauf from McKeesport and Cami Fast from Jefferson Hills, each had their preference.
“Cotton candy followed by the frozen ice cream,” said Dunham.
“Any of the cheesecake flavors,” chimed in Kamauf.
“Honeycomb,” added Fast. “It has these Twix pieces and it’s topped with a layer of gooey caramel and milk chocolate,” she said.
Crumbl Cookies was nothing new for the three friends. They have traveled far for the treats. They are now happy there is a store in their backyard.
“My boss got me hooked on them and then I was driving to Irwin to get them. Then the location in Washington opened and now here,” said Duham. “So this is a welcome 20-minute drive rather than a 40-minute one.”
A single cookie can be purchased for just under $5. A four-pack cost over $15 and a half-dozen, $24. Calories range anywhere between 680 (shortbread) to 800 calories (cotton candy and peanut butter munch muddy buddy) per cookie.
“They are very rich,” Wagner said. “So you really can cut them into four or six pieces and they can be shared. They are so huge.”
Shaha is pleased with the latest location.
“It’s a great location. I love Bethel Park. I love here in the South Hills. I think it’s so family-oriented,” said the Pittsburgh resident. “It’s a great location because we are really about bringing the best cookies in the world to families and for them to come together. I’m really excited about that.
“Crumbl Cookies is an awesome franchise that is focused on family and premium ingredients. It’s really exciting because of our concert rotating menu. I felt like it was really relevant and a really great product.”