Liz Tierney, owner of Batch Bakehouse, spends her weekends baking cookies and placing them in a box mounted on a tree along West Churchill Street in Bucktown. Since opening Batch Bakehouse in July, Tierney has filled the box every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. with free cookies for anyone who stops by.
"I used to wake up on Sunday mornings and watch Martha Stewart on PBS like as a 10-year-old, and I had all of her cookbooks," Tierney said.
Tierney offers a variety of flavors, including chocolate chip, blueberry and specialty selections.
"We do blueberry. This weekend we're doing a mixed berry, which is blueberry and strawberry. Okay. And then we have a pecan toffee oat that we do, which is really good. A pistachio halva," Tierney said.
The giveaway has attracted a growing following. Tierney said the box has been emptied every weekend since she started the tradition, and neighbors now make a point of stopping by before the cookies are gone.
"We live in the neighborhood. Let's take what, like, right? Just get a breeze by. Make sure we don't miss out on the cookies," customer Viviannna Lopez said.
As word spreads, lines have grown longer and some visitors risk missing out if they arrive late.
"Yeah, you can tell it's soft and crispy at the same time. Looks like the perfect cookie," customer Nikita Khara said.
While Tierney said she does not expect to continue giving away free cookies forever, she said the effort has helped reignite her passion for baking while creating connections throughout the neighborhood.
"I want to keep doing it for as long as I can because I really it has brought so much joy, and this is such a nice community," Tierney said.
Tierney said she hopes to continue the tradition for as long as possible as neighbors gather around a simple idea that has become a welcome part of their weekends.