Alibi Cookies plans a new location in The Grove, which includes an all-weather CookieBot vending machine

The venue will be the second outpost for the bakery.

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Alibi Cookies is set to close a deal on its second storefront, an as-yet-undisclosed location in The Grove. Owner Mike Evans hopes to finalize a lease on the space in the coming days, with a target opening date in April.

Evans launched Alibi Cookies in summer 2020 and made a splash with the bakery’s CookieBot vending machine. The machine popped up at a few venues, did a longer stint at Tamm Avenue Bar, and now sits on the sidewalk outside Alibi’s current location, at 1136 Tamm. The CookieBot keeps cookies warm, maintaining a fresh-out-of-the-oven flavor and providing a socially distanced, convenient option for customers.

Evans was inspired by a video about a similar vending machine in Japan that he happened upon while browsing Facebook. He sought out a manufacturer to create a vending machine to his own specifications, and the CookieBot was born. Aside from its utility as a point of sale, the CookieBot has been an invaluable marketing tool for Alibi Cookies.

“It does get people intrigued,” Evans says. “They see the social-media photos of the machine, and it gets them wanting to go and try it, or they go to visit our website.” (Indeed, Evans says customers are sometimes so curious, they’ll wait in line to use the CookieBot even if there’s no queue inside the shop.)

Once the lease is signed on The Grove location, Evans plans to move forward with a buildout that will be similar in size and format to Alibi’s current location (pictured above). Standalone CookieBots might also be set up in other locations around St. Louis later this year. And in addition to baking cookies and 10-inch cookie cakes for walk-in customers and receiving small orders for shipping or pickup, Alibi is handling larger orders for businesses and private events. 

Alibi’s line of cookies has grown from around five original flavors to a choice of about 15. “We try to offer about 12 in the machine at any given time, with a specialty cookie of the month, too,” Evans says. Ice cream and ice cream sandwiches are also available. The Chocolate Chunk has been a longstanding best-seller, but the White Chocolate Lemon is currently in high demand. “We’re having trouble keeping up,” he says. “That’s a good problem to have.”

And with Valentine’s Day approaching, Alibi Cookies is also offering heart-shaped cookies and cookie cakes. Supplies will be available for walk-ins until February 15, but Evans strongly suggests pre-ordering online. 

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