The one thing I think everyone in the village can agree on is that we are spoiled with bakeries. From Broken Tart up north to Oak Park Bakery down south, it’s an embarrassment of riches. Friends from the city regularly detour just to stand in line at places we often take for granted.
Quick sidebar: before I turned 40, I was a donut aficionado. Anytime I traveled, my first Google search was “best donut in …,” and I’d go out of my way to try it, then post my official review. These days, though, donuts hit me like a freight train. One glazed ring and I’m asleep on the couch 20 minutes later. Luckily, I discovered that scones give me the same joy without the sugar crash.
Case in point: I’m helping coach my son’s 10U Little Huskies football team this year. After our first win last weekend, my wife asked if she could pick up a celebratory treat for me. The choice was obvious: the Chocolate Espresso Scone from Spilt Milk. If you like sweet scones, I’d argue it’s the greatest scone ever (no cap, as the kids say). I waited in anticipation only to get the dreaded text: “Sorry, closed.”
I get it: Running a great bakery is demanding, and long hours don’t make sense. But it struck me that in our bakery abundance, there’s still a gap. We have fantastic options all morning and afternoon, but once the clock hits 5 p.m., the window closes. By evening, if you want dessert, your only real option is ice cream.
Here’s my humble proposal to fill that gap: Collaborations. Imagine grabbing dinner or a cocktail at one of our local restaurants and being able to order a CrumbCrusher cupcake or a Blackout Baking Co. cookie for dessert. A simple partnership could keep the ovens off at night while still sharing the goods.
And if collabs aren’t possible, maybe we need something even better: a bakery ATM. We can all get our Sugar Fixe, and suddenly the late-night sweet tooth has an outlet — while our bakers still get their well-deserved rest.
It’s a small problem, sure — what some would call a “First-World problem.” But when you live in a village blessed with this many world-class bakeries, maybe it’s not too much to ask for just one more bite after dark.
Vince Gay has over 20 years of experience in education, ranging from classroom teacher to building administrator. The proud parent of two school-aged children, he has been an active member of the Oak Park community for more than a decade.