Levain Bakery is Opening in Rittenhouse on Friday, October 11th

The wait is over: On Friday, October 11th, the highly-anticipated Levain Bakery in Rittenhouse (1518 Walnut Street) is finally opening its doors to Philadelphians for the first time ever.

Founded in 1995 as a small bread bakery on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Levain (which is also the French term for “natural leavening”) has 14 other bakeries across the country in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Chicago, Bethesda, and Boston. Philadelphia is now Levain’s 15th spot — located inside of a former bank — that will serve as both a retail bakery and production space for the brand.

Mark Weinberg

For co-founders Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald, expanding to Philly was an easy choice given their personal connection to the city and that of their team.

“It is a neighborhood that we have long admired,” says McDonald of Rittenhouse Square. “Dating back to Pam’s first career working in fashion, she was able to get to know some of the city’s legendary boutiques of the late ‘80’s, early ‘90’s.”

Melissa Kirschenheiter

“While it all began in a tiny storefront on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, we are excited to become part of Philadelphia’s robust food scene,” Weekes says. “We are energized by the city, with all of its chefs, restaurants, bakeries and the incredible enthusiasm for eating. We look forward to becoming friends over our shared love of food.”

The co-founders also note that each of their bakeries have a distinct look and feel, where they “look for locations where we can join and enhance a neighborhood.”

“Our Rittenhouse bakery is located inside a former bank and was thoughtfully designed to retain the original architectural elements,” McDonald adds. “The space features a mural designed and hand-painted by Philly’s Tara Jacoby, who infused hidden nods to the City of Brotherly Love throughout the mural.”

Kate Previte

Mark Weinberg

The Rittenhouse location will sell their iconic six-ounce cookies in six different flavors: chocolate chip walnut (also available as gluten-free/vegan), dark chocolate chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, two chip chocolate chip, and the newest caramel coconut chocolate chip. For the season, their opening line-up of cookies will also include the fall chocolate chunk, flavored with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses.

Mark Weinberg

In addition to their notable cookies, the bakery will also sale coffee, a variety of seasonal breads, loaf cakes, pastries, brioche, and weekend-only sticky buns — all baked in-house daily. Customers can also partake in their local delivery options via DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats, as well as catering options that include various cookie assortments, signature breads paired with spreads, morning treats, and more. For those looking for local-themed merchandise, Levain Rittenhouse will also be selling such Philly swag as well.

Mark Weinberg

Julie Dietz

The fun begins next Friday morning at 8 am with a grand opening ribbon cutting, a Philly tote bag giveaway with free bakery swag for the first 100 guests, and surprises all weekend long. In true brotherly love & sisterly affection, all of the Levain Rittenhouse opening day proceeds will be donated to local anti-poverty nonprofit Broad Street Love.

Levain Rittenhouse will be open daily from 7 am to 11 pm with more information that can be found on their website and social media.