BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A rapidly expanding late-night bakery concept, known for offering its “warm, freshly baked cookies” into the early morning hours, is planning to open its first Lehigh Valley location.
A new location of Insomnia Cookies, with more than 300 locations nationwide, is expected to open this summer at 606 E. Third St. in south Bethlehem, according to an Insomnia Cookies spokesperson.
The new location will operate on the ground floor of Six 10 Flats, a new five-story, mixed-use development – featuring more than 70 luxury apartments – on East Third Street between Buchanan and Pierce streets in south Bethlehem.
Ryan Kneller
The new Insomnia Cookies location will operate in a space near the middle of Six 10 Flats’ ground floor, according to John Callahan, director of business development for Peron Development, the building’s owner.
Building and electrical permits for the new Insomnia Cookies location are currently displayed in the 606 E. Third St. unit’s window, with the building permit’s description reading “interior fit-out of existing vacant commercial space (baker – Insomnia Cookes).”
Ryan Kneller
Founded at the University of Pennsylvania by then-student Seth Berkowitz, Insomnia Cookies has been “feeding the insatiable hunger of loyal Insomniacs” since 2003, according to a company description.
“It starts as so many great stories do: a group of college friends, up late in a dorm (we’ll say they were studying… use your imagination) with a craving for something delicious,” a message on Insomnia Cookies’ website reads.
“They wanted to satisfy not only their late-night cravings but their insatiable hunger for adventure; for those stories that can only happen when the sun goes down and the Insomniac comes out. For our founder Seth, the craving was even more specific. He wanted something sweet, warm, and he wanted it brought to his door. At the time though (this was 2003!), late-night food options weren’t cutting it. With eateries closed and spotty delivery options, Seth took matters into his own hands (oven mitts?), imagining a business that catered to people just like him: Insomniacs.”
An Insomnia Cookies location operates in Center City Philadelphia.
Ryan Kneller
Today, with more than 300 locations nationwide, Insomnia Cookies offers a wide variety of delicious cookies, ice cream, and other sweet treats in-store, for local delivery, and nationwide shipping. Most locations stay open until 3 a.m. daily.
Insomnia Cookies’ menu includes “classic cookies” such as chocolate chunk, double chocolate mint, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter chip, snickerdoodle, sugar and white chocolate macadamia; and “deluxe cookies” such as chocolate peanut butter cup, confetti, oatmeal chocolate walnut, s’mores, salted caramel and triple chocolate. Various vegan varieties are available.
Ryan Kneller
Customers also can enjoy brownies such as chocolate chip brownies, chocolate chunk brookies and chocolate chunk blondies; ice cream combined with warm cookies and brownies; and cookie cakes. Catering is available.
The new Bethlehem location of Insomnia Cookies will operate a few doors down from a new location of Wingstop, a fast-casual chain specializing in cooked-to-order classic and boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches.
The south Bethlehem Wingstop location opened in December.
Ryan Kneller