New cookie concept coming to Lethbridge

By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 25, 2023.

Submitted photo A former Lethbridge resident is set to bring his award winning cookie shop to Lethbridge.

An award winning cookie company is opening a location in Lethbridge.

A family duo opened their first cookie store in Logan, Utah in 2017 and since then they have been awarded for having the best milk chocolate chip cookies in the U.S.

Former Lethbridge resident Jason McGowan, CEO of Crumbl Cookies,shared the beginning stages of developing Crumbl Cookies with his cousin Sawyer Hemsley co-owner of Crumbl Cookies in a Zoom meeting last week.

“When we first got started, it was just a simple concept. We were like, we love cookies, let’s make some cookies. And deliver them to the to the people in Logan,” said McGowan.

McGowan said it took him and Hemsley time to come up with a good chocolate chip recipe and the building they started in was anticipated to be demolished in six months. He said although Door Dash delivery service was not popular at the time, the cookie delivery business became a hit.

“All of a sudden, it just went crazy. And we only had time to launch with just chocolate chip. We had one menu item with only one flavour and we opened our doors and people just went nuts. And they’re coming in droves and their lines out the door.

“And we’re like, oh my goodness, this is crazy. I still can’t believe it, and I have to pinch myself all the time of what happened. It’s so exciting. And I’m been just loving the journey.”

Crumbl Cookies has more than 900 locations throughout the United States along with approximately seven locations in Canada with more to come. McGowan voiced his love of Lethbridge and his personal connection to Lethbridge.

“What’s really interesting to me and really exciting about us opening in Lethbridge is it’s the place I grew up. I love Lethbridge. I was born in London, Ontario and I moved to Lethbridge I think when I was one years old, so most of my childhood and my memories are living on the west side and going across the bridge every day and so there’s just so much nostalgia memories and childhood.”

After its humble beginnings with just chocolate chip cookies, Crumbl Cookies now has more than flavours and offers types ranging from warm to chilled cookies.

“We have an interesting concept where we rotate our cookies every single week. We have our chocolate chip as a staple cookie. And then the other five flavours we just rotate so, every week, there’s something new and different and fresh. And it really creates this excitement.”

McGowan noted Crumbl Cookies are large enough for individuals to share with family and friends.

“They’re large. They’re meant to bring people together, whether it’s family reunions, or date night with the girls or any of those things, it’s really meant to be shared. And so that’s why they’re large. We have cookie cutters, you cut them up and you share them with those people that you know mean the most to you and also, they’re serve warm.”

There is no set date to when Crumbl Cookies will be opening up in Lethbridge and the location is not being publicly revealed yet.

McGowan said the location is for now confidential. He shared the unique flavors of cookies and the excitement he feels to be opening a store in Lethbridge.

“We’ve really taken cookies – what they were traditionally – and just done all kinds of cool crazy things with them. A lot of fun things. And that’s kind of the concept. And that’s my excitement level of really bringing it to Lethbridge.”