Captain Cookie & the Milk Man, DC’s favorite stop for made-from-scratch cookies and ice cream sandwiches, will grand open its long-awaited Cleveland Park storefront on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Owners Kirk and Juliann Francis, along with their dedicated cookie crew, will eagerly welcome the community to enjoy a delightful experience and to help "Save the World, One Cookie at a Time."
Captain Cookie's dedication to the local community takes center stage at the inauguration. The small business will donate ten percent of grand opening sales to benefit DC Central Kitchen, a social enterprise non-profit committed to battling hunger through job training and job creation. Juliann shared, “We are excited for the opportunity to further support DC Central Kitchen in the critical work it does daily to improve lives in the DC area.”
"We are thrilled to join Captain Cookie & the Milk Man to celebrate their grand opening in Cleveland Park,” said Mike Curtin, CEO of DC Central Kitchen. “It's partners like Juliann, Kirk, and the Captain Cookie team, who share our compassion and dedication to addressing hunger and its root causes, that allow us to make a real impact in our community. We wish them great success in their new location and look forward to working together to create meaningful change here in the District.”
“The support we’ve seen already has made us even more excited to give back to the neighborhood,” said Kirk Francis. “We’re starting things right by benefitting DC Central Kitchen, and we have other fundraisers for local organizations in the works. We’re serious about making Cleveland Park (and DC) better every day, and for us that means awesome cookies, a great customer experience, and giving back to the community.”
“We’re really looking forward to having a permanent, meaningful presence in the Cleveland Park neighborhood,” said Juliann Francis. “These long months of construction and permitting have shown us what great neighbors we have in this location, with so many people reaching out to share their excitement and support. This area clearly understands the importance of neighbors helping neighbors, and we’re glad to be a contributing part of that cycle—small business has such an important part to play in building community.”
"It's great to celebrate the remarkable resilience exhibited by Captain Cookie & the Milk Man as they open their newest store in Cleveland Park, even in the face of post-COVID challenges," said Shawn Townsend, President and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. Shawn added, "Their commitment to quality, customer experience, and investment in their team embody a steadfast dedication to fostering community and fueling local economic growth."
Attendees are welcome to join the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 AM and have a chance to win free merchandise and treats by spinning Captain Cookie’s “Wheel of Fun.” The store is located at 3411 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, with regular hours from 10 AM to 10 PM daily.
Painting the Spirit of Captain Cookie’s Mission
The fun mural at the Cleveland Park store was painted by the talented team at Capital Murals. It captures the spirit of Captain Cookie's mission and features Captain Cookie flying with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk, symbolizing the company’s dedication to "Saving the World, One Cookie at a Time."
S’mores & More: A Captain Cookie Adventure
To celebrate the start of the fall season, patrons can try Captain Cookie's new s'mores cookies. It’s all the good parts of a campfire without getting smoke in your face: toasted graham crackers, chewy marshmallows, and velvety milk chocolate.
Alongside the tempting new special, there’s a cookie for everyone. Customers can indulge in the classic chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, double chocolate, confetti, peanut butter, and more. Captain Cookie also makes a serious offering for their vegan customers: a chocolate chip cookie using house-made vegan butter that is sure to please.
Kirk explains, “One highlight of a visit to Captain Cookie comes from the joy of creating your own ice cream sandwich masterpiece. Choose any two fresh cookies and pair them with any flavor of local, premium-quality ice cream from Ice Cream Jubilee and South Mountain Creamery.”
For updates on new flavors, events, and more, patrons can subscribe to Captain Cookie & the Milk Man's bi-weekly newsletter and follow their social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @captaincookiedc #CaptainCookieCP #CaptainCookieDC
About Captain Cookie & the Milk Man
Captain Cookie & the Milk Man is a dynamic, superhero-themed cookie bakery renowned across DC for its small-batch cookies, made-to-order ice cream sandwiches, local dairy, tempting edible cookie doughs, and indulgent milkshakes. Kirk Francis founded the first Captain Cookie food truck in DC in 2012. Since then, he and his wife, Juliann, have expanded their cookie joy-sharing by adding multiple trucks, a flagship store adjacent to George Washington University, and now five DC-area bakeries with a sixth location in Raleigh, NC.
Captain Cookie & the Milk Man's mission is to “save the world, one cookie at a time.” We believe that we can improve the lives of our staff with good work and pay, our customers with great cookies and customer experience, and those in need with charitable giving. Small things - like a fresh cookie served with a smile - can lift your spirits, and that joy spreads as people pass on the good feelings to their friends, coworkers, and families. The spirit of this mission is exemplified at all stores, their cookie trucks that roam the streets of DC, and at various catering events.