Levain Bakery Celebrates Upcoming Book Sharing 30 Years of Craft, Community, and Cookies

Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald share their journey from a small Upper West Side bakery to a national icon, and the friendship that started it all

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Levain Bakery co-founders Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald will publish their first book, Levain Bakery: A Story of Friendship, Community, and Cookies, on October 14, 2025. To mark the bakery's 30th anniversary, the book offers a candid look at their three-decade journey of building one of the world's most celebrated bakeries, told through personal stories, hard-won lessons, and the voices of the people who have been part of their story from the beginning. Beautifully designed and richly illustrated, it also features archival photographs, custom artwork, and a selection of recipes.

Pam and Connie first met as athletes training for triathlons, bonding over a shared love of good food. In 1995, they opened a small bakery on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Over the next three decades, Levain grew from a neighborhood favorite into a national destination often lauded as home to the world's best cookie.

"From day one, we just wanted to bake things we loved and share them with people," said Pam. "We never imagined it would grow into this incredible community."

The memoir captures defining moments in Levain's history, from overnighting a still-steaming braided Italian Easter loaf to Williams-Sonoma (and unexpectedly landing in their national catalog) to building a loyal team and a customer base that spans generations. It's a story about friendship, perseverance, and the joy of creating something that brings people together.

"We've always said Levain is about more than cookies," said Connie. "It's about connection and the people who have been with us from the very beginning."

To celebrate the publication, Pam and Connie will take part in a series of conversations and signings this fall, including:

• Hamptons, October 11 at Book Hampton
• New York City, October 13 at Barnes & Noble Upper West Side
• Washington, D.C., October 22 at The Brand Guild in Georgetown
• Los Angeles, October 28–29 with events across Beverly Hills and Larchmont
• Chicago, November 6–7, including a stop at The Book Cellar
• Philadelphia, November 8 at Bloomsday
• New York City, November 24 at Rizzoli Bookstore
• Boston, December 3 at Lovestruck Books

Additional events are being planned in other cities. Readers are encouraged to check the Levain Bakery website and follow @levainbakery on social media for the latest updates.

Levain Bakery: A Story of Friendship, Community, and Cookies by Pamela Weekes and Connie McDonald, with Claudine Ko, will be released on October 14, 2025.

About Levain Bakery

Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald founded Levain Bakery – pronounced luh.VEN – in 1995 as a small bread shop on the Upper West Side of New York City. After training for triathlons, the founder duo started baking six-ounce cookies with simple, high-quality ingredients as the ultimate post-race treat. After finalizing the recipe, the cookie flew off the bakery shelves. 30 years later with 18 current bakery locations, Levain is often lauded as the home of the world's best cookie. For more information on Levain Bakery, visit www.levainbakery.com or follow the brand on social media @levainbakery.

SOURCE Levain Bakery