A new late-night cookie shop is opening in Hoboken this weekend. Owned by Andrew Zerquera and Ali Hajihaidari, The Cookie Connect, a business that has two other locations in New Jersey, has just opened its third location in town at 305 1st Street. Read on for more details about The Cookie Connect expanding to Hoboken.
FYI: According to Instagram, the first 100 customers at the grand opening on Saturday, October 16th, will get a free box with two cookies: one classic cookie and one Big Deborah (Cosmic Brownie Stuffed Double Chocolate Chip Cookie).
(Photo credit: @thecookieconnect)
Background on The Cookie Connect
The Cookie Connect started as a business that operated out of Hajihaidari’s attic during senior year of college in 2016. “[We] would bake treats till 2AM and deliver them to Montclair State University until the wee hours of the morning,” the owners tell Hoboken Girl.
That’s just the beginning. More of the owners’ backstory is shared on the business’ website. “Through crippling anxiety and tons of stress, [the best friends] decide to bake some cookies, make some cash, and calm some nerves. The goal? Make enough money to travel a little – relax – and then come back to NJ and start the corporate job search again!”
Read More: Rumble Boxing to Open in Hoboken
“After promoting on Instagram, selling some awesome baked goods, and traveling…[the owners] were flooded with tons of social media activity right before they were about to hang up their aprons and put on their suits. People wanted these crazy cookies!”
^ Brownie Batter Stuffed Red Velvet
(Photo credit: @thecookieconnect)
Since then, Zerquera and Hajihaidari have opened up two locations: one at 405 W. Passaic Avenue in Bloomfield and another at 46 Chestnut Street in Ridgewood.
The Cookie Connect’s mission is “We want to make sure everyone’s late-night cravings are fulfilled. Our menu has a cookie on it for everyone. Whether you are a teenager trying to get over a heartbreak, a college student trooping through finals, a mother stressing over her son’s birthday party, or an elder wondering what they should serve at their next Sunday Dinner for dessert – we are here to help!”
About the Menu
One quick glance at the company’s menu will leave visitors wanting more than one delicious treat! The cookies come in all different flavors, 12 are featured at a time, such as fruity pebbz, Nutella stuffed chocolate chip, coconut caramel, fluffatella s’mores, and cinnamon roll. Milk is available for purchase as well because, well, what’s better than milk to go with cookies.
“Aside from these amazing cookies, The Cookie Connect is also known for its creative Cereal Ice Cream Bar! The signature product – The Cookie Cup (20oz cookie parfait) – and the Giant 5lb Ice Cream Sandwich are recognized nationwide as some of the most ‘Instagrammable’ desserts! Let’s get #baked!” the site reads.
(Photo credit: @thecookieconnect)
The cereal ice cream bar consists of four steps: choosing the ice cream base (cereal soft serve, cereal shake or cookie cup); selecting the type of cereal (Frosted Flakes, Cocoa Pebbles, Lucky Charms, etc); then picking additional toppings (Oreo pieces, chocolate or rainbow sprinkles, etc); and finally, selecting a sweet sauce to top it off.
Hajihaidari tells Hoboken Girl, “We have maintained that same artisan cookie experience at all of our current locations and will be doing the same at our Hoboken location. All of our dough is made on-site by hand and aged overnight. Each and every cookie is prepared fresh, by hand (we don’t use machines, we do not freeze our dough, we do not use pre-made frozen cookie rounds)! And, each and every shake, soft serve, and Cookie Cup is curated by the customer and handcrafted by our employees.”
See More: Cali Shakes + Juice Bar Opens in The Heights
In The Media
The Belleville resident and Pace University grad shares that The Cookie Connect has gained national recognition. “We have been featured on Food Network, Thrillist, NBC New York, New York Live, and the Roku Channel!” he says. “We were also voted NJ’s favorite cookie by Yelp.”
^ Photo of The Cookie Connect’s new location, 305 1st Street
Zerquera and Hajihaidari were excited to open in Hoboken once the renovation was complete at Restore Health Bar & Juicery’s former location. In addition to opening a new location in Hudson County, the two bosses are also working on opening a fourth location in Morris County.
To find a complete list of the best spots for cookies in Hoboken and Jersey City, check out this article. To learn more about The Cookie Connect, visit their website found here and to follow them on Instagram for special offerings and updates, click here.
