Crushing it at CrumbCrusher – Forest Park Review
There’s a new place where you can have your cake and eat it too. CrumbCrusher bakery opened in January at 805 South Blvd. in Oak Park. The shop is bright, colorful and welcoming.
Sure, it is next door to Spilt Milk, but Berwynite owner and baker Chelsea Goolsby-Eberhart has a twist on baking that she feels adds to the block rather than competes with it.
“Oak Park was where I wanted to be situated with my inclusive treats,” Goolsby-Eberhart said. “We are 100% peanut and tree nut free, and we also offer other options for people who have other dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free, and even some keto.”
The chef has a system for keeping every ingredient in its place in the kitchen.
“We always make sure that we handle our gluten-free things first. We make sure the kitchen is completely cleaned up and ready to prep all of our gluten-free batters,” she said.
Each morning, cases in the store are filled with freshly baked cupcakes, custom cakes, multiple flavors of croissants, and bagels – imported weekly from New York. While staring at gooey treats, like deep dish cookie pie, take notice of the color code for allergen awareness.
“I developed a system based on plates. I specifically bought plates in different colors with the mindset that the gluten-free was always going to be red plate because that was just like a No. Don’t touch. Don’t contaminate,” said Goolsby-Eberhart.
Her passion for inclusion started early in her culinary journey.
“I worked for Chicago Public Schools while I was in college, and I always would bring goodies to my class. I was the art and computer teacher. Students knew, if they were going to come to Miss Chelsea’s computer lab, they would have a snack before we started class. But it got to the point where a lot of my kids had allergies. And you know, it’s kind of upsetting when you’re the only kid in the classroom who doesn’t get something. So, I vowed that I was going to crack the code on how to have inclusive treats and make sure that no one is ever left out,” said Goolsby-Eberhart.
Next came a job in IT operations, but her love for baking has never flagged. While moonlighting making masks early in the Covid pandemic, Goolsby-Eberhart would include pre-packaged treats with orders. Customers asked if she sold the sweets too. So, she started making cupcakes and custom cakes at home with a cottage food license.
“I enjoy doing hyper-realistic cakes. My favorite are mixed media cakes where they’re more like a collage, and that’s because with those, I get to incorporate technology a lot more,” Goolsby-Eberhart said. “I’ve invested in edible printers, 3D printers using sugar. If somebody tells me they want a cookie with their dog’s picture in the shape of their dog, we can make it happen.”
With the storefront open in Oak Park, the cake creator invites people in to relax and enjoy.
“We love kids. We love making it a kid-friendly, mom-friendly space. I have a 7-year-old myself and there were times when I would go to places that looked friendly and inviting and colorful, and I’d get in and I’d feel so tense and awkward like I have to make sure that my kid is on his Ps and Qs,” she said.
Customers seem to like what she is putting out there.
“I was in last week. I had kids with me. Everybody got something different and everybody said theirs was really tasty,” said customer Anna Prescott. “I got a mystery box with chocolate chip cookies.”
What’s a mystery box? It’s Goolsby-Eberhart’s dedication to zero waste. For $5 or $10 you can buy a box filled with yesterday’s treats. Win-win.
The one thing that Goolsby-Eberhart says she is still working on is coffee.
“If you want black coffee, I’ve got you! If you want good tea, I’m a tea snob. I’ve got an extensive tea collection,” she said.
In the shop, there is an extensive selection of packaged tea, candies, snacks, and cool school supplies that extend the anime-themed vibe of the art on the walls.
For CrumbCrusher to be a place for a snack, a custom cake, or a long chat with friends is just what Goolsby-Eberhart ordered.
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Go Know:
Address: 805 South Blvd, Oak Park
Website: cclucakes.com
Hours:
- Sunday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
