New Bakery In The Loop To Deliver Cookies Dough To Door

When a child smells the sweet aroma of baking cookies coming from the kitchen, it can live in the memory forever and recalled as though it happened yesterday. That's the experience a new bakery in University City is hoping to duplicate.

Dough to Door - a bakery scheduled to open at 567 Melville, in the Loop this month - will take the fresh baked cookie concept to a new level. Not only will patrons be able to buy cookies and other baked goods in the store, but the tasty treats can be delivered directly to homes in University City, parts of Clayton, and students at Washington University and Fontbonne University. Naturally, they'll deliver cold milk as well.

The business really got its start when co-owners Jonathan Weinberg and Ernest Dixson met. “We had a good chemistry and we both had entrepreneurial spirits,” Weinberg said. “We made a lighthearted pact to do something together some day.”

When they decided to go for it. It didn't take them long to hit upon the idea of cookie delivery. “When I attended school in Indiana, there was a company that did the same thing. There wasn't anything like that here.”

There was just one problem. Neither Weinberg or Dixson knew anything about baking cookies. Tamika Moore was brought in as the third partner. “Tamika had experience with cookies,” Weinberg said. “The recipes came through her.”

In addition to cookies, the business will offer other memory inducing sweets like brownies and rice crispy treats. Customers can also select made-to-order items, or create their own custom orders where they pick the dough and the extras, such as M&M's or other assorted candy surprises. Cookies will be baked after the order is placed to insure they're warm and fresh.

The business is set up and ready to go. They're only waiting for the city to grant them a business license. For now, they can work in the space but not operate.

Weinberg is particularly fond of the Loop and Dough to Door's location. “I live close enough to the Loop to ride my bike there,” Weinberg said. “That makes me happy. It's a great area.”

Even though Weinberg is a laid back, low-key kind of guy, he is anxious to open for business and start selling cookies, as are hungry dorm students. “I'm very excited,” Weinberg said. “I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit. We intend to give back to charity once we become profitable.”

Weinberg is also driven by the memory of his mother and her cookies.

“I can remember when my mom just got finished baking cookies,” Weinberg said. “There's nothing better. That's the feeling I want to recreate.”

Once the shop is open for business, their hours will be Monday through Wednesday, noon to midnight, and Thursday through Sunday, noon to 2am. The store is located at 567A Melville Ave., just west of Blueberry Hill. For more information, visit the Dough to Door website, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.