The Baked Bear, a shop that provides customers with a delicious new kind of treat to try, opened on Feb. 22 on Elm Street in the space previously occupied by Cinnaholic. The store offers custom ice cream sandwiches that are made from a variety of cookie and ice cream flavor options prepared fresh, in-house.
With other locations established across New Jersey, Owner Tyler Hess and his partners wanted to bring the company’s vibe and energy to Westfield. Hess explained that the beauty of the business is that customers can customize and order according to their liking with everything fully prepared in a quick and efficient way.
Upon entering, customers are immediately greeted with the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies and hand-crafted ice cream. The friendly staff makes you feel right at home, ready to help create the perfect dessert.
One novel aspect of their customization is that you can choose to have two different cookies as the top and bottom of your sandwich. For an extra touch, the staff recommends that you warm the cookies, something we took advantage to have the fullest experience.
Whether it’s a classic chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream or a cookies-and-cream cookie with cookie monster ice cream, there is something for everyone.
Hess noted that his personal favorite flavor is the gooey butter cake cookie with blackberry crumble ice cream. Other popular combinations include the brownies with mint chip ice cream and the Funfetti cookie with cookies-and-cream ice cream.
“We have such a variety of flavors in both ice cream and cookies that families come in and everyone can get something they enjoy — from little kids to their grandparents,” said Hess.
A large, eye-catching menu hangs on the wall, displaying all the cookie and ice cream options, so you can make your choice at your own pace.
Ordering is simple: First, you choose your top and bottom cookies, then select your ice cream flavor, followed by optional toppings (which come at an additional cost). Finally, you can decide if you want your cookies warmed up. Each sandwich comes to about $10, which seems reasonable given the large portion and quality of the treat.
The interior is lively and welcoming, with bright decor featuring balloons and banners to mark their grand opening. The space has multiple tables and seating areas where customers can relax and enjoy their treats with friends and family.
The new spot has been a hit since its opening. WHS senior Sydney O’Connor said, “I loved [the Baked Bear]. My friends and I went this past weekend and we all got ice cream sandwiches. It was definitely worth the price for the amount of ice cream they give you and it was really good.”
With its unique offerings and welcoming environment, The Baked Bear is destined to be a lasting presence in Westfield.