SPRINGFIELD — A “for lease” sign in front of Hot Oven Cookies on Allen Street has left customers worried about the business’s closure, but the love for cookies will not stop, it will just be moving to another Springfield location.

Founder Sheila Coon moved her business to 1512 Allen St. three years ago. Prior to that, Hot Oven Cookies opened its first location in 2018 on Main Street.

In August, Coon’s lease will be up.

“This season is over, and I feel I could better serve our community in another place,” she said.
With plans of staying in Springfield, she has gone to see potential locations throughout the city.

“I am big on opportunities … Taking opportunities that come our way is necessary,” she said.

While the aesthetics of a space is important, Coon shared that the community is more important.

“The level of support, loyalty and dedication people have [for us] is overwhelming,” she said.

Coon plans to have a “seamless transition” to the new space and is hoping to find a location that is already equipped with everything needed. If work is required, she said she will park the cookie truck on-site like they used to when the business first started.

Until Coon has a place to go, she will not leave the current location.

The new location will have customer favorites permanently added to the menu including freshly squeezed lemonade and hot chocolate. Coon shared she is hoping to obtain a soft serve ice cream machine as well.
Aside from these additions, the Hot Oven Cookies menu will remain the same, consisting of “simple” offerings so as not to confuse patrons.

Coon emphasized her appreciation to the customers.

“I can’t even quantify [all the] thank yous,” she said. “I am super-duper blessed [and] humbled to be where we are, and it wouldn’t be like that if it weren’t for our customers.”

She went on to say that the community and the people is “the fuel” that keeps her going.

Soon — hopefully within the next year — Coon plans to purchase her own building and provide a safe space for women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in general to work.

She also has plans on expanding into Connecticut, Boston and beyond.

Hot Oven Cookies’ current hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until sold out.
Cookie flavors rotate weekly, but the signature flavors are boozy cake batter sugar, dark chocolate sea salt chip, coquito snickerdoodle and guava cheesecake.

For additional information, visit hotovencookies.com.