Bakeries win with Steelers
When the Pittsburgh Steelers go on an extended playoff run, it usually results in a sweet increase in business for area bakeries.
At Boldy's Homemade Cookies in Penn Township, anything having to do with the Black and Gold is flying off the shelves.
“We were doing a lot of special things (last) weekend for the Steeler game,” said Joan Schaffer, daytime manager at Boldy's.
“It seems to be a lot of walk-ins. We had a lot of stuff here on Friday, and all of it was gone by Saturday afternoon.”
For the upcoming AFC Championship Game, Boldy's is once again stocking up on large chocolate chip cookie cakes iced with the Steelers logo, cakes iced to resemble the Terrible Towel and lots of cookies: cookies with the Steelers logo, cookies with players' numbers, football-shaped cookies and cookies with Pittsburghese sayings.
Yoi!
“We do a little bit of everything,” Schaffer said.
“We will probably make a little more this weekend, since this time we'll have Saturday and Sunday to sell, too. Hopefully, by game time Sunday, we're sold out again.”
Carol Wahl, owner of Carol's Pastry Shop in Zelienople, said orders haven't yet come pouring in for Steelers-related fare, but it's nice when they do.
“We make some Steelers cookies and cakes and sandwich buns. It definitely helps out a little bit this time of year,” she said.
Bonnie Depew, a manager at Loafers Bread in Cranberry Township, said the company sees a spike in business during the playoffs mainly because of an influx of parties that need to be catered.
The bakery doesn't have anything special planned for the AFC Championship Game, but Depew said it might roll out a fan favorite unleashed the last time the Steelers made the Super Bowl in 2009.
“Last time we made black and gold bread with challah dough and food coloring,” she said. “It was popular then, so we might do it again if the Steelers go that far.”
Depew said the company also undertakes a bit of extra advertising during playoff season to let people know it's available to cater parties with sandwiches, salads and cookies.
Eagle staff writer Jared Stonesifer contributed to this report.
