Insomnia Cookies, Commonplace Books and more retail for Midtown (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=339-Insomnia-Cookies-Commonplace-Books-and-more-retail-for-Midtown/edit)

National chain Insomnia Cookies is planning its first Oklahoma City location in Midtown, and Commonplace Books looks to open just up the street in The Edge complex.

Insomnia will offer a walk-in location feature freshly-baked cookies in the Plaza Court.


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/insomnia1a.jpg


The company recently opened its first Oklahoma location in Stillwater and offers warm cookie delivery every day until 3AM. Store hours are typically 9AM to 3AM during the week and 11AM to 3AM on weekends.

In addition to cookies, Insomnia also offers ice cream and ice cream cookie sandwiches as well as cold milk.


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According the Insomnia website, the store and bakery will be located directly north of newly-opened Nhu Fashion and to the south of The Laboratory. All these new spaces were created when Plaza Court owners Midtown Renaissance recently carved out extra retail areas from formerly dead space along Walker Avenue.


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Nhu Avenue is a women's contemporary apparel and accessories boutique that opened in September.


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The Laboratory is “Oklahoma City's First Premium Sneaker Consignment Boutique” and opened last month.


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And further north on Walker, Commonplace Books has it's signs up in The Edge complex, just north of Organic Squeeze. Organic Squeeze is currently closed for a re-tooling.

On social media, Commonplace bills itself as “Oklahoma City's Newest Indie Book Store”.



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Along the booming Walker Avenue corridor, the new offerings join the established retailers Black Scintilla, Chirps & Cheers, Mode Fashion, and Fit Circle, as well as numerous restaurants and bars.


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Tried a place in Addison a few months back called Tiff's Treats that was doing the warm cookie delivery.... If this place is even half as good as the warm cookies we got at Tiff's were...... Well my waistline may be in jeopardy!

They have almost 100 locations and are growing fast, so they must be doing something right.

Any warm cookie is a good cookie.

Any warm cookie is a good cookie.

Definitely.... Didn't notice of they had snickerdoodles on the menu but if they do.... My willpower is going to be severely tested!

Crap... Just scrolled back up.... They have snickerdoodles!

Tried a place in Addison a few months back called Tiff's Treats that was doing the warm cookie delivery.... If this place is even half as good as the warm cookies we got at Tiff's were...... Well my waistline may be in jeopardy!

One of my good friends had it several years ago in Philly and said they were amazing. He brought some back and he said they kept well, even a day later.

Used to have Insomnia in New York more than I care to admit. As long as they're keeping quality high across all these new locations, I don't think many people will be disappointed. Between this, the new bookstore, and Hank's coffee, I'm glad I don't live at the Edge any longer or I would be out of money.

The cookie thing seems great! Late night sugar fixes are perfect for this spot in the long-run as the neighborhood continues to mature.

And the prices seem very reasonable.

I had it plenty of times in downtown Miami and it is sooooo good.

Though I don't recall that area being too busy around their late night hours. I'm sure businesses will love brining in their cookies for employees etc. I know I'll be packing those in my waist line too

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2874#m34476

Excellent write-up of the new bookstore owners.

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2874#m34476

Excellent write-up of the new bookstore owners.

Very cool, especially how one of them interned at Full Circle.

This will be a great thing for Midtown.

Their sign is about to go up:



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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/insomnia110816b.jpg

Insomnia Cookies to open in Midtown district

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record December 30, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City’s Midtown district is getting a sweet new tenant.

Insomnia Cookies is leasing 1,409 square feet at 1131 N. Walker Ave. This is the company’s second Oklahoma location. The first store opened this spring in Stillwater.

CBRE|Oklahoma retail broker Ryan Storer represented Insomnia Cookies in the leasing transaction. He said the company is still trying to find a site in Norman. Ideally, Insomnia would like to be on Campus Corner.

Insomnia Cookies specializes in desserts. Customers can receive cookies, brownies, cookie cakes and even cold milk. Ice cream is also on the menu and can be served on top of the warm cookies.

The company dates back to 2003 when then-student Seth Berkowitz started making and delivering cookies to his friends at the University of Pennsylvania. There are more than 70 locations, mostly east of the Mississippi River. All stores are corporately owned.

With a dessert-based, fresh-baked menu, the Midtown space needed a bakery, but that wasn’t on Storer’s top priority list when trying to find a location. He said he looked first where Insomnia would be successful. Second, he worked with the Midtown Renaissance group on outfitting the space with baking equipment.

Insomnia Cookies’ Senior Marketing Manager Courtney Altamura said the company looks for cities with an active community.

“(Midtown) seemed like a great spot with all of the businesses downtown,” she said. “We have great proximity to the bars and restaurants.”

Insomnia offers delivery of its desserts from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Altamura said deliveries can be made up to three miles from the store.

“We do make changes (to the distance) if we find we’re missing out on a hospital or an apartment complex,” she said.

The store will hire about 20 people, she said. Cookies can be purchased on-site as well. Insomnia is opened daily until 3 a.m. with deliveries available until the late hour as well.

“This is a strong spot,” Storer said. “They’ll do well at 10th and Walker.”

Altamura said the Stillwater store has settled in nicely with the Oklahoma State University students and surrounding community. She said Insomnia wants to expand its Oklahoma presence, but Norman is the only city on the list right now.

They opened last night.

went here today and the cookies are pretty decent... it seems they're still figuring things out as the ordering process wasn't quite as smooth as it could be.

We made a run this morning right at 9 am. They were just opening up and the cookies were warm and right out of the oven. They were a hit at the office!

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Someone posted this before but it got lost in the maintenance process we had to do today.

So here it is again:

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We made a run this morning right at 9 am. They were just opening up and the cookies were warm and right out of the oven. They were a hit at the office!


from what I can tell, you should get a warm cookie every time as they hold them in a warming drawer.

from what I can tell, you should get a warm cookie every time as they hold them in a warming drawer.

They cold called us today at the office today with a box of cookies and the cookies were nice, warm, and gooey. We will be ordering from them when we need cookies.

Can you walk in and buy cookies or delivery only? May stop in for dessert after the game.

Can you walk in and buy cookies or delivery only? May stop in for dessert after the game.

You can walk in and buy cookies.

You can walk in and buy cookies.

My, oh my. They were delicious. Warm, gooey, and fresh - perfect.

Someone posted this before but it got lost in the maintenance process we had to do today.

So here it is again:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/insonmnia021417.jpg

As someone who lives in Edgemere, I am kind of disappointed they didn't go six more blocks north.

They cold called us today at the office today with a box of cookies and the cookies were nice, warm, and gooey. We will be ordering from them when we need cookies.

WTH??? My office is right around the corner from you guys and we didn't get any cookies.... Must be because your building is purtier than ours. ;)

WTH??? My office is right around the corner from you guys and we didn't get any cookies.... Must be because your building is purtier than ours. ;)

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They have to draw the line somewhere. My office is 2.1 miles from the nearest Jimmy Johns and they won't deliver to me because of that .1. And I'm within 3 miles from 2 other Jimmy's (basically in the dead spot between the three locations). I hate it, but 2 miles is their thing so I have to deal.

WTH??? My office is right around the corner from you guys and we didn't get any cookies.... Must be because your building is purtier than ours. ;)

I miss the like button

I miss the like button

HAHA... Yeah... And then to add insult to injury I got invited to go to the Thunder game Wednesday but couldn't go due to other obligations and the next morning my wife tells me "I got to try some Insomnia Cookies at the Thunder game last night..... Doh!

Guess I'm going to have to give up on getting free cookies and pay to have some delivered to the office... lol

We went last night (not in the delivery zone, unfortunately)

They were definitely good cookies, and to have a warm option that you don't have to cook yourself etc. is nice. They seem a bit expensive, but not exorbitant by any means.

I will say, that the bathrooms (which are part of the whole building) are not open to the public. I'm not even sure that's legal, but just in case you all are leaving a restaurant and planning on passing by Insomnia first, but you need to use the restroom, make sure to go before leaving the bar/restaurant.

This place is dangerous - we got cookies and ice cream delivered a few nights ago ... yikes! The cookie was hot and the ice cream was cold - perfect! Both were delicious and the portion size wasn't too huge. This place should do great. My waistline ... not so much!

We went last night (not in the delivery zone, unfortunately)

They were definitely good cookies, and to have a warm option that you don't have to cook yourself etc. is nice. They seem a bit expensive, but not exorbitant by any means.

I will say, that the bathrooms (which are part of the whole building) are not open to the public. I'm not even sure that's legal, but just in case you all are leaving a restaurant and planning on passing by Insomnia first, but you need to use the restroom, make sure to go before leaving the bar/restaurant.

As in paying customers only or not even that?

As in paying customers only or not even that?

As in not even paying customers.

That's very common here LA for businesses not to have public restrooms. I'd expect to see that more and more in OKC.

As in not even paying customers.

That's a customer service (consideration) that's a deal breaker for me. Stopped patronizing Baskin Robbins after they refused to let my young son use their restroom (which was clearly visible from the counter). Told them they could keep their ice cream and we left and never went back.

We went last night (not in the delivery zone, unfortunately)

They were definitely good cookies, and to have a warm option that you don't have to cook yourself etc. is nice. They seem a bit expensive, but not exorbitant by any means.

I will say, that the bathrooms (which are part of the whole building) are not open to the public. I'm not even sure that's legal, but just in case you all are leaving a restaurant and planning on passing by Insomnia first, but you need to use the restroom, make sure to go before leaving the bar/restaurant.

It's in the common area in the center of the building. They'll give you the combo to the door if you ask.

It's in the common area in the center of the building. They'll give you the combo to the door if you ask.

That may be their policy. That was not the reality.

One of these in Norman by Campus would most likely be a gold mine.

One of these in Norman by Campus would most likely be a gold mine.

There is one in Stillwater now.

I bet they will be coming to Norman soon.

One of these in Norman by Campus would most likely be a gold mine.

Hurts Donuts already has that niche.

One of these in Norman by Campus would most likely be a gold mine.

Yeah, I'm sure that's part of their planning. There's one on Fry Street right off the University of North Texas' campus in Denton.

There is one in Stillwater now.

I bet they will be coming to Norman soon.

There is one rumored for half the space that Pita Pit occupied on Boyd.

I love their cookies, and have placed four orders in the past couple weeks. Just be sure to actually count what they deliver to you. Twice, they've left out cookies. There's no local number listed to call, so you wind up having to either email or call corporate customer service.

I love their cookies, and have placed four orders in the past couple weeks. Just be sure to actually count what they deliver to you. Twice, they've left out cookies. There's no local number listed to call, so you wind up having to either email or call corporate customer service.

Wow, they're less accurate than the drive-through workers we've had at Wendy's and McD's (who have consistently gotten our orders right the past few times (surprisingly))... And that's kind of ridiculous about no local number (or bathroom).

This was form a 2015 Journal Record article.

Wonder if this completely fell through?


Equity Realty Broker Rainey Powell said the company has signed a letter of intent regarding its plans in Norman, at 311 W. Boyd St. on Campus Corner. The 2,000-square-foot Pita Pit will be remodeled into two separate spaces, one for the restaurant and another for Insomnia Cookies.

This was form a 2015 Journal Record article.

Wonder if this completely fell through?

The Pita Pit site is under construction and the sign outside just says something about how we'll all be excited for what's coming next. Not a quote, since I can't remember exactly what it said and it's been a week or so since I last walked by.

The Pita Pit site is under construction and the sign outside just says something about how we'll all be excited for what's coming next. Not a quote, since I can't remember exactly what it said and it's been a week or so since I last walked by.

In the Oklahoman's Norman Chat today they said some of that space will be for a new bar called The Porch.

In the Oklahoman's Norman Chat today they said some of that space will be for a new bar called The Porch.

A friend of mine that owned that pita pit franchise is behind The Porch. It's going to have a huge rooftop patio overlooking Boyd St and the area near the North Oval. It should be a great new spot for campus corner.

A friend of mine that owned that pita pit franchise is behind The Porch. It's going to have a huge rooftop patio overlooking Boyd St and the area near the North Oval. It should be a great new spot for campus corner.

That's great. So Campus Corner will be adding The Porch and a Skinny Slim's. Those offer some nice options for gamedays. :)

I think the best thing about these cookies is that they're warm. Once cold, they're not much different than most bakery cookies. My nephew has a cookie store in Manhattan (Schmackary's) that makes amazing cookies - lots of unique flavors that taste great for days, weeks even. But this is a nice addition to the area and the cookies taste great warm.

There is one in Stillwater now.

I bet they will be coming to Norman soon.

I enjoyed their cookies there before. I bet business will improve when another new 5 story apartment complex just several blocks away on 4th Ave. is ready to start accepting residents.

Patronized this place a couple of times now. IMO you get a better cookie consistently when you order delivery. The office has had cookies delivered three times now and each time they were very, very good (s'mores for me).

However, the two times I went in person to order at the counter, the cookies were not as good - as in, they had obviously been sitting in the warming drawer under the register for long enough to stiffen up. Sure, they were 'warm', but they were also verging on hard (except the for the very center).

Additionally, both times they had hardly anything ready to go in quantities over 4-5 of any one flavor. Each time I've tried to get 6-10 s'mores and was told they didn't have that many on hand and it would be 20 minutes to make more.

I'm guessing when you place an order for delivery they cook them up fresh and deliver right out of the oven.

I'm sure there are times you can arrive at the counter as they are coming out of the oven - but, I haven't been that fortunate.

I've got their number in my phone now, so I can call ahead and get fresh cookies to pickup.

Otherwise, really pretty good. Haven't done the ice cream yet.

I heard a second OKC location is in the works, but I'm not sure where it is going.

A vendor recently ordered me a box of cookies for my birthday. My office was right outside the delivery area though, and as a result they were shipped out of PA? They got to me a week after my birthday and their cookie tracker says it's still in the process of being shipped out. Needless to say they were stale.

I reached out to their customer service about this and their solution? Go to the OKC location and buy more cookies. Yeah right....

A vendor recently ordered me a box of cookies for my birthday. My office was right outside the delivery area though, and as a result they were shipped out of PA? They got to me a week after my birthday and their cookie tracker says it's still in the process of being shipped out. Needless to say they were stale.

I reached out to their customer service about this and their solution? Go to the OKC location and buy more cookies. Yeah right....
Buy more cookie?.. ummm no.. that is disappointing

I will never go here again. I used to order from here all the time. Chris, one of the delivery drivers knows me by name and knows I do a lot of business with them so always rushes my order when it comes in. I work just south of the Capitol so I usually order delivery, but pick up from time to time. The service there has never been great, but it wasn't an issue until yesterday.

I should preface this by saying I worked in retail for a long time, I also bartended and waited tables for several years. I know what people go through when working in the service industry and usually look for the best in people. If the food is wrong or slow at a restaurant, I always give the waitstaff the benefit of the doubt.

On Tuesday, I placed an order on the app for 50 cookies to be picked up on Thursday as part of a lunch tray. I wanted to pick them up at 11:45, but when I chose that time, it moved it to noon for me without notifying me.

Fast forward to Thursday and I go to get my cookies at 11:45. The sign on the door says to order online or call for your pick up. I call the number on the sign and proceed to sit on hold for five minutes without talking to anyone. I'm out front of the store and I see people working so I try to wave them down to get their attention. They look at me but then don't acknowledge me. I start to knock on the window when I see someone, for the simple act of asking a question about my order as no one on the phone has picked up. So, every time I see someone, I knock on the window.

Finally, someone comes to the door and asks rudely why I am knocking on the window at them. I tell them because I have an order and no one will pick up the phone. He told me to stop knocking on the window as that is rude and my order won't be ready until noon, walks away and locks the door. In 15 minutes, my colleague and I go back and he proceeds to tell her it was disrespectful to knock on the door and I should have called. She said I did and no one would answer. She asks what I should have done and he said to not knock on the window, closes the door, locks it and walks away.

I have been ordering here for three years and the service inside was never great, but this made me never want to go there again. I guess I can order from Browns, Roxy's or go to Tiff's Treats when they open in the Steelyard.

Considering that they now have competition from Tiffs Treats you would think they would need to step up their game.

Just about every food service place -- and many others -- are having a terrible time finding workers.

They are basically taking anyone willing to turn up.

. . . they are not doing themselves any favors :hammer: After being on hold for over 5 minutes I gave up and contacted corporate via mail and shared my experience and the pertinent part (no name/identifiable characteristics) of Warren88's post. This was their response:

Thank you for reaching out to us! I apologize about the inconvenience. Unfortunately, our store's do not take their own calls. Instead, everything is directed towards our nation Customer Service call center. Due to a high volume of customers, we frequently have long hold times to speak with a representative. For the inconvenience, I have sent a follow up email that contains a coupon code for 2 free cookies on your next minimum order!

We appreciate you providing us with that feedback from the message board. I will be sure to pass it along to the management team of that bakery so that they can properly address this issue in store.

Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help!

Kindly,

—
Haley
Customer Service
Insomnia Cookies

and. . .the coupon is for 2 cookies with a minimum $6 order for delivery only. . .which you have to place on on line.
Major Fail. . .

“ our store's do not take their own calls. ”

And that’s enough to make me decide to not ever support this company again. Even Walmart allows you to get through to their stores and usually they are good about it. Yet a small cookie company can’t do it? Thanks but no thanks. That story from WarrenG made my blood boil. I can’t stand people acting like that.

I've met the people from Tiff's Treats - and I've also had a few sketchy experiences at Insomnia, even pre-pandemic - and my guess is that Insomnia is going to have to SERIOUSLY step up its game.