07/28/2023
my friend took this candid picture of me right after I opened the shop - a lot has happened since that day, mostly good - but now it is time for me to close the Cookie & Crumb
after 3 years (plus so many more if you factor in years as a home baker) I have decided to pursue another opportunity. As my baking friends know, this biz, while seemingly fun and pressure free, is no joke. The end results might be delicious and pretty, but the long, exhausting hours it takes to get to that point take a toll. The lifestyle of an independent baker is a challenging one.
This isn't a sob story...thanks to the amazing support of my family, friends, and the great people of Atlantic Highlands and beyond, I got to create my dream and watch it thrive. I met amazing people, delivered a quality product that I was proud to serve & learned so much - I will be forever grateful for this chapter in my life.
I don't leave a vacuum - there are so many amazing independent bakers in the area - right here in Atlantic Highlands, Flour on First, down in Bradley Beach is E. Holland Sundries (who have been inspiring me from day 1), Baker's Grove in nearby Shrewsbury is a must-visit, Sweet Dani B in Asbury Park (your hands-down, go-to for iced cookies!) and newcomer Nicolina down at Cafe Coco in Shrewsbury is doing something really special. I hope you will support these small businesses - there is definitely a difference between a finely crafted, small batch cookie made with high quality ingredients vs. a mass produced cookie. No amount of social media or press is going to make a mediocre product delicious.
Rest assured, if you placed a custom order for August or September & left a deposit, your project will be completed as planned at the shop. I will, however, not be accepting any additional custom orders at this time. If you are not sure if your order is official, contact me at [email protected]
Thank you so, so much for your love & support ❤️ xo Valerie