From cookie dough, to soft pretzels, to cinnamon buns, meet the newest West Chester cookie dough shop
When you walk into Cookie Dope on South High Street, your first thought is probably, “it’s bigger on the inside!” Yep, just walk up a couple of stairs into a purple-lit room with a selection of eight cookie dough flavors, four ice cream flavors, and over 20 toppings, a lounge area, and a back room with a bunch of tables and chairs and you’ll understand what makes it so “dope.”
Originally from Reading, Cookie Dope’s owner, Preston Neidermyer was excited to open the business’ first location. He was inspired by cookie dough shops like New York City’s Cookie DŌ and his own love of the restaurant industry and cookie dough, so he opened up his business here.
“This used to just be an old building in horrible condition — it wasn’t even fit for an office,” Preston said. “But we’ve turned it into something that our customers will really enjoy.”
And with so many selections of cookie doughs, ice creams, and other desserts, it’s difficult to find a dessert that you don’t like!
Especially when they have cookie dough milkshakes, funnel cake fries, and cookie dough waffle sandwiches.
“Our most popular flavors right now are probably the Rowdy Brownie and our Strawberry Cheesecake,” he said. “But we’re trying to put out one new flavor a week, so that could change!”
And when you select the sauces that you want to put on your cookie dough, just don’t try the cheese sauce. While it’s meant for their soft pretzels, Preston won’t stop you from putting it on your cookie dough… but he can’t promise you’ll like that way.
Cookie Dope also holds its “12-Scoop Pursuit” challenge: eat all eight cookie dough flavors and four ice cream flavors in 30 minutes and you get your order for free, plus a photo of you on the wall.
“Our latest victor was 14 years old,” Preston said. “He had such a sugar rush afterward!”
I wasn’t up to the challenge, but I did try a scoop of their Strawberry Cheesecake flavor, which was so amazing, I couldn’t tell that it was gluten-free and vegan.
And Cookie Dope plans to participate in this year’s Sweet Charity with the Chester County Community Foundation now that it’s in town.
“We want to get involved in this community as much as possible,” Preston said. “I’m excited to see what we will achieve.”
