New NYC-Based Bakery Opens This Week In Newport Beach

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A new bakery is opening its doors in Orange County.

Levain Bakery will open its doors Friday, Sept. 4 at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, marking the bakery's first Orange County location.

Founded in 1995, the business started as a small bakery that attracted patrons for their daily offerings of fresh bread and baked goods.

When the bakery decided to add cookies into the mix, everything changed.

"Today, Levain's crispy-on-the-outside-gooey-on-the-inside cookies have become a cultural phenomenon, drawing devoted fans from around the world with the same recipe they've been baking since 1995," a Levain Bakery news release said.

To celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 people in line on Friday will receive a custom Levain Bakery Newport Beach tote bag filled with bakery swag.

All proceeds from opening day will also benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, owners said.

"We have always felt that Levain brings people together, and our LA bakeries have shown us that Southern California agrees," co-founder Pam Weekes said. "Levain in Newport Beach feels like the next natural step and we can't wait to open our doors at Fashion Island."

Weekes runs the business with her co-founder and best friend, Connie McDonald.

Levain Bakery Newport Beach opens Friday, Sept. 4 at 8 a.m. at 315 Newport Center Drive.