Homemade banana bread, apple pie, and peach cobbler — what do all of these have in common other than they are delicious classics? They all can be found made from scratch from the local bakery, CobblerWorld! This local business, based out of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on the Penn Avenue side, is a one-stop shop for all of your dessert needs.
This local business is owned by Terina J. Hicks, Chief Baker Officer & Founder. From a young age, Terina had an interest in baking that stemmed from her mother’s delicious holiday peach cobbler, YUM. When she was 14, Terina decided she wanted to start learning how to make this classic that her mother had perfected over the years. Fast forward to 2014 and CobblerWorld was born!
Open Tuesday-Friday from 11 am-2 pm, you’re going to want to make sure you fit a visit in your schedule. If you work Downtown, CobblerWorld is the perfect lunchtime pick me up. Not only do they sell the aforementioned banana bread, apple pie, and peach cobbler, but they also have cookies, cheesecakes, pound cakes, and MORE. These aren’t your typical desserts either. The uniqueness of the flavors makes each of these items one of a kind. The Sweet Potato Pound Cake, Cherry Chocolate Chip Pound Cake, and Key Lime are just a few specialties found at CobblerWorld. If you are a cheesecake person, just know CobblerWorld’s are INCREDIBLE. The Pretzel Crusted Caramel won an award in 2016 for best dessert in Pittsburgh! Other fan-favorite cheesecakes are the Mandarin Orange and Chocolate Mousse. If those aren’t your jam, don’t worry, because there are 17 different flavors!!
With Juneteenth being declared a national holiday, it’s important to mention the struggles CobblerWorld has endured being a black-owned business. When I spoke with Terina, she shared the following.
“Being a black-owned business in Pittsburgh is not easy, to say the least. There are many hurdles and obstacles that we still have to overcome, such as racism. It’s not as bad as it used to be, but this city is far from where it needs to be. I can remember before the pandemic, I would sit outside my shop in Downtown Pittsburgh during the Spring and Summer months, I would say good morning to white passersby, some would not even acknowledge my existence. It doesn’t hurt to say ‘good morning.’ Nonetheless, the few will not make me shut down and not speak to anyone, ever. I will continue to believe that there are more good people in this city than there are bad and that we will overshadow those who choose to remain in their small bubble. I will continue to donate confections to feed the homeless through the many organizations that I have partnered with.”
CobblerWorld proudly partners with organizations such as Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation, Community Kitchen, and Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (URA) as a way to give back to the community. Gaining access to capital is an issue Terina said that many black-owned businesses face. Capital along with obtaining property for their business, whether leasing or purchasing is something that can also hold new black-owned businesses back. By partnering with these organizations, Terina and CobblerWorld can help others succeed the way they have!
I asked owner Terina what the future holds for CobblerWorld and she said, “The goal of CobblerWorld is to one day become an international company. If Ken Rawlings, owner of Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, who started selling his cookies from the trunk of his car became an international company, there is no stopping us.”
Make your summer SWEET by stopping by and supporting this awesome black-owned Pittsburgh business this summer! If you’re torn on what to order, try the popular sweet potato shortcake! It is made up of sweet potato pound cake served in a mason jar, drizzled with their bourbon reduction sauce, and layered with fresh-made whipped cream. “Like a strawberry shortcake but a million times better!”
