Steve Buresh Shutters Cheesecake, Cookie Stores: 'It Has To Be Over'

PLAINFIELD, IL — After 15 years, Steve Buresh is hanging up his apron.

Plainfield's cheesecake mogul announced this week he would shutter both his eponymous Cheesecake Store and Cookie Store, situated across the way from one another at the intersection of 143rd Street and Lincoln Highway.

Buresh announced the closure of his "cosmic bakehouse" — themed after his first car, a Saturn — on Monday, by which time the store had already served its last sweet treat. Two days later, more hearts were shattered when he shared a 14-minute video saying he would also close the Cheesecake Store And Sandwich Shop.

"It's pretty darn sad," he said in the Facebook reel. "I put a lot into this place. ... It was a dream 15 years ago. I said, 'You know what? I'm going to give it my all,' and I did."

His health and the current economy played a role in his decision. Post-pandemic, the business had its worst month in April, he said.

"It's the economy. It's the last straw," he said. "I made it through COVID; it took a huge mental toll on me, my family, everybody. ... Now, pretty much since gas went up to over $4, it has been super slow, super slow. I don't feel like it's going to get any better."

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Buresh opened the Plainfield cheesecake shop in 2014 after building his clientele by selling his desserts at Plainfield's farmers market from 2011 onward. He also operated a location in Oswego from 2017 until its closure in 2022.

"The time is now to close up the Cheesecake Store, too, and start the second half of my life," he said. "Hopefully I'm here for a while helping out others. That's my plan."

When Buresh opened the second concept in November 2024, his goal, beyond selling cookies, was also to centralize baking for his businesses in a larger space that would also allow room for more fundraising opportunities.

"This was not an easy decision," he penned in a letter about the cookie store. "This place meant so much for my future plans. With the unstable economic conditions, high food costs and my mental health deteriorating, it has to be over."

He continued: "I never saw this as just a business, but a space filled with smiles, conversations, and the simple joy of baked goods. I am incredibly grateful for every person who walked through those doors, supported me, and became part of a galactic story."

Cheesecake lovers have just over two weeks — 16 days from Thursday, to be precise — to indulge in Buresh's delicacies. The bakery is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Buresh said he will keep the Cheesecake Store website live "for a while" to allow people to use gift cards.