Cookie Cart

Welcome to **Cookie Cart**, a beloved institution in North Minneapolis that is so much more than your average bakery. For folks across Minnesota, and especially those in the Twin Cities, Cookie Cart offers a unique opportunity to satisfy a sweet tooth while investing directly in the future of the community's young people. Operating as a successful retail bakery, a dedicated non-profit organization, and a vital youth employment and leadership program, Cookie Cart's dual mission is to produce incredible, fresh-baked cookies and to equip local teens with the essential skills they need for successful futures.

The concept is simple yet powerful: **cookies are the tool, and youth development is the goal.** When you stop in for a quick visit or place a large order for an office event, you're not just buying a treat; you're supporting a real-world classroom where hundreds of teens gain paid work experience, build professional skills, and participate in workshops focused on career and leadership development. It’s a true social enterprise model where the delicious cookies fund a vital community mission, making it a standout local choice for both baked goods and meaningful social impact.

The organization’s roots trace back to 1988, when Sister Jean Thuerauf started baking cookies with neighborhood kids in her kitchen, using the simple activity as a way to connect, provide support, and teach valuable lessons. What began as a cart rolling through the streets of North Minneapolis has since grown into a thriving enterprise, staying true to its founding vision of using the power of cookies to create pathways to success for young people.

## Location and Accessibility

Cookie Cart's primary Minneapolis location is a cornerstone of the North Minneapolis community, making it an accessible and convenient stop for residents and visitors alike. You can find this impactful bakery right on **West Broadway**, a central thoroughfare for the neighborhood.

The physical address is **1119 W Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411, USA**. This location, just off I-94, is a well-known spot, making it easy to navigate to from various parts of the Twin Cities metro area. Its placement on a main route ensures good visibility and convenience for both quick pickups and longer visits.

For those concerned about ease of access, the location is designed to be welcoming to all members of the community. Accessibility features include a **wheelchair accessible entrance** and a **wheelchair accessible parking lot**, ensuring a stress-free experience from the moment you arrive. Whether you're swinging by on your lunch break, running an errand, or making a dedicated trip, the Broadway location is set up for a smooth, quick visit.

## Services Offered

Cookie Cart operates as a full-service bakery with several flexible options to accommodate both individual customers and large business orders. The core focus is on high-quality cookies, but the offerings extend to support their comprehensive business model.

Here are the primary services offered to customers:

• **In-store shopping**: Visit the bakery to see the selection of daily classics and seasonal favorites, and purchase treats directly from the teen employees.
• **In-store pickup**: Place an order ahead of time, whether for a dozen cookies or a large catering batch, and pick it up conveniently at the store.
• **Delivery**: For those with a large order or limited time, delivery is available, making it easy to bring their delicious cookies to your home or office event.
• **Catering and Large Orders**: Cookie Cart excels at fulfilling large orders for events, meetings, or celebrations, providing a fantastic, local alternative to standard catering options.
• **Coffee Service**: Enjoy a selection of coffee with your baked goods, perfect for a morning treat or a midday pick-me-up.

These service options are all managed by the organization’s youth employees, providing them with essential, real-world customer service and logistics experience, which are invaluable lessons they carry forward in their careers.

## Features / Highlights

Beyond the simple fact that they bake great cookies, Cookie Cart is distinguished by its unique operational model and commitment to the community. These features set it apart from other local bakeries:

• **Non-profit Youth Organization**: The single most significant feature is that every cookie purchase directly supports a paid youth employment program. Net profits are reinvested into providing teens aged 15-18 with job training, leadership workshops, and life skills education.
• **Hands-on Job Training**: Teens receive comprehensive, real-world experience in every facet of the business—from baking and food preparation to sales, customer service, packaging, and business operations.
• **Community & Equity Focus**: The organization is dedicated to building opportunity and equity in the communities it serves, providing a critical first-time job experience and essential skills to hundreds of youth, primarily youth of color, from North Minneapolis.
• **Invaluable Life Skills**: The program curriculum extends beyond the kitchen to cover financial literacy, customer service, communication, and conflict resolution, preparing the teens for success in any future career path.
• **Welcoming Atmosphere**: The bakery maintains an inviting and inclusive environment, identified as an **LGBTQ+ friendly** space.
• **Modern Amenities**: For patrons who wish to enjoy their coffee and cookie inside, the location offers **Wi-Fi** and a **gender-neutral restroom**.
• **Flexible Payment Options**: Transactions are simple and modern, accepting **Credit cards**, **Debit cards**, and **NFC mobile payments**.

## Contact Information

To place an order, inquire about catering, or learn more about the organization's mission, you can easily reach the team at the Minneapolis location. The staff, including the dedicated youth employees, are ready to assist you.

The main contact details are:

Address: **1119 W Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411, USA**

Phone: **(612) 521-0855**

Mobile Phone: **+1 612-521-0855**

Whether you're calling to arrange a large corporate delivery or just need to confirm their daily flavors, the team is known for being extremely helpful and accommodating, as noted in customer reviews.

## What is Worth Choosing?

For any local Minnesotan looking for a fantastic bakery experience, Cookie Cart is genuinely a worthwhile choice—and for reasons that go far beyond the exceptional taste of their treats. Simply put, choosing Cookie Cart means choosing to support a thriving social mission.

Firstly, the **quality and value** of the product stand on their own. Customer feedback consistently praises the cookies as some of the best they’ve ever had. As one reviewer enthusiastically noted, "Easily some of the best cookies I’ve ever had and the price can’t be beat!" The core menu, which includes classics like Chocolate Chip, Confetti, Gingersnap, M&M, and Peanut Butter cookies, is baked with real, quality ingredients, resulting in a delicious and satisfying product.

However, the most compelling reason to choose Cookie Cart is the **measurable impact** of your purchase. The organization serves as a critical first employer for hundreds of teens in the Twin Cities. By purchasing cookies, you are funding a youth employment program that teaches responsibility, collaboration, initiative, and goal-setting—skills that have been shown to lead to greater employment success for their alumni compared to the local community average. A corporate customer highlighted this perfectly, noting it was "great to support a local business and a good cause." The satisfaction of getting a delicious, fresh-baked snack is doubled by the knowledge that your money is creating tangible opportunities and building future leaders right here in your community.

Whether you need a last-minute dozen, a catering solution for your next big office event, or simply a quick stop for an afternoon coffee and a classic cookie, choosing Cookie Cart is a powerful way to make your purchase matter.

Cookie Cart

1119 W Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411, USA