Crumb Crusher Bakery: Oak Park’s Inclusive Sweets Shop
At the corner of 805 South Boulevard in Oak Park, just steps from the Hemingway District and a quick train ride from Chicago, sits a bakery where joy rises right alongside the dough. It’s called Crumb Crusher Bakery, and inside you’ll find color, creativity, and cupcakes (lots of cupcakes) baked with love, laughter, and zero peanuts in sight. Opened in January 2025 by local baker and mom Chelsea Goolsby-Eberhart, this little shop brings a big mission: to make sure everyone can have a treat. Whether you’re gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free, or just chasing the perfect chocolate-chip cookie, Crumb Crusher proves that inclusive baking can still be wildly imaginative and seriously delicious.
The Story Behind Crumb Crusher
Chelsea was born and raised in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood and has lived with her family in Berwyn since 2015. Weekend baking with her loved ones taught her that food connects people and no kid should ever feel left out because of an allergen. After years of perfecting her recipes, she decided to open her dream bakery close to home. The result is a vibrant, nut-free space designed to make every guest feel welcome.
Crumb Crusher is proudly 100% peanut- and tree-nut-free, but that’s just the beginning. The menu includes rotating gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free, and even keto options, each baked with the same care and flavor as the classic versions. To protect sensitive customers, Chelsea uses a color-coded kitchen system, separate prep zones, and careful sourcing from trusted suppliers. The goal is to make allergy safety feel normal, not restrictive. And as a Black woman, Chelsea extends her mission beyond food. She sees her shop as a statement of inclusion, representation, and joy.
What Makes Crumb Crusher Unique
Walk through the door and you’ll see it right away. This is not your average bakery.
A Rainbow of Treats
Cupcakes and cookies, custom cakes, croissants, NYC bagels brought in weekly, and the famous deep-dish cookie pie. The lineup changes daily, but the creativity stays constant. One day there’s a pistachio-colored vegan cupcake (nut-free, of course), the next features a chocolate-drizzled “squishmallow” cookie kit. Chelsea calls her style “playful pastry art,” and that energy fills every display case.
Hyperrealistic Custom Cakes
Crumb Crusher’s custom cakes have already gone viral in Oak Park. Chelsea specializes in “mixed media” cakes, highly realistic sculpted and hand-painted designs with edible printing and inspired by pets or anime characters. Want your cat’s face on a cake? Your kid’s favorite boba drink recreated in buttercream? She’s got you.
Zero-Waste “Mystery Box”
Every good bakery wrestles with leftover treats, but Crumb Crusher turned that challenge into fun. Their Zero Waste Mystery Boxes offer day-old goodies—cupcakes, brownies, slices of deep-dish cookie pie—at a wallet-friendly price. Think of it as sustainability with sprinkles.
Kid-Friendly, Parent-Approved
Inside, the vibe is pure joy: bright murals, cartoon art, anime figurines, and little touches like board games and colored pencils on tables. Parents can sip tea or a latte, kids can nibble cookies or tackle frosting-covered cupcakes, and nobody has to worry about mess or allergies. Chelsea wanted a bakery where families could hang out, not just grab and go. And she nailed it.
The Menu: Must-Try Treats and Fan Favorites
Crumb Crusher’s menu rotates often, but here are a few can’t-miss picks:
Signature Cupcakes: Crumb Crusher cupcakes come in classic and seasonal flavors. You’ll find everything from confetti to churro to s’more. Many have vegan and gluten-free versions that taste just as rich as the originals.
Custom Cakes: Designed for birthdays, weddings, or “just because,” these cakes are a local legend. Each one is made to match your theme and dietary needs, including nut-free, and gluten-free.
Croissants and Breakfast Pastries: Flaky, buttery layers (with vegan options!) that make weekday mornings brighter.
Bagels from New York: Yes, really. They’re brought in weekly and served with vegan cream cheese or flavored spreads. A Saturday favorite among Oak Park commuters and Forest Park neighbors.
Gluten-Free and Vegan Brownies: These fudgy, decadent brownies are one of Crumb Crusher’s most sought-after treats, and trays often sell out daily.
Deep-Dish Cookie Pie: Imagine a chocolate-chip cookie the size of a pizza, served by the slice or whole. It’s gooey, golden, and instantly addictive.
Other Treats: French silk and pumpkin pies, cake pops, and the beloved Squishmallow Cookie Kit, a make-at-home decorating kit for kids. Everything is made from scratch, with small-batch love. And if you have a dietary restriction? Just ask. Chelsea will find (or create) something that works.
Click here to view the weekly flavors.
The Crumb Crusher Experience
If “joy” were a color, Crumb Crusher would be painted in it. The interior feels like part bakery, part playground, part community lounge. There’s soft seating, cheerful art, and shelves lined with teas, toys, and school supplies for kids who drop by after class. The staff, many from Oak Park and Forest Park themselves, greet regulars by name. For families, especially moms looking for a judgment-free zone, it’s a dream: snacks for kids, caffeine for adults, and an environment that actually welcomes chaos.
Chelsea knows that dream firsthand, and she’s built her bakery around it. She’s also a tea enthusiast, offering loose-leaf blends you can sip in-house or buy to take home. Pair a lavender-vanilla cupcake with a cup of white peach tea or a bold black breakfast blend for a total vibe. There’s also black coffee and latte service for the grown-ups who just need a moment. And yes, takeout and pickup are available if you can’t stay.
How Crumb Crusher Fits Oak Park’s Scene
Oak Park has never lacked great bakeries, but Crumb Crusher fills a new niche: fun-forward, allergy-friendly, and proudly local. Chelsea’s shop joins a tight network of creative food spots stretching from La Grange to Forest Park, but she’s carved her own lane with her focus on inclusion and community. You’ll find her team participating in local festivals, school events, and collaborations with other small businesses nearby. Her zero-waste initiatives and nut-free policies are the foundation of her business philosophy. By leading with compassion and creativity, she’s making Crumb Crusher not just a bakery, but also a bright thread in Oak Park’s cultural fabric.
Plan Your Visit: What to Know
Address: 805 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302
Phone number: (251) 225-3482
Hours: Closed Mondays and Thursdays. Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays–Sundays.
10 a.m.–7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
10 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturdays
10 a.m.–1 p.m. Sundays
Always check social media for updates.
Ordering: Online pre-orders for custom cakes; walk-ins welcome for daily treats and seating.
Pickup and Takeout: Available for nearly everything, including cupcakes, bagels, cookie pies—you name it.
Best times to visit:
Saturday mornings—croissants and bagels go fast.
After-school hours—the bakery buzzes with families and frosting.
Evenings—quieter, great for tea and dessert dates.
Tips from regulars:
Ask about the week’s specialty cupcakes or mystery box.
Mention any allergen concerns when you order.
If you’re planning a party, inquire about themed cake packages and inclusive menu options.
For teachers or parent groups, Crumb Crusher does adorable mini-cupcake boxes for events.
Click here to contact Crumb Crusher for a custom order.
Why Locals Love It
Customers describe Crumb Crusher as “part bakery, part hug.” Reviews mention not just the sweets but also the feeling: one of belonging, celebration, and play. It’s the kind of place that reminds you why you love small businesses, because you can see the person behind the counter who actually made what you’re eating. Whether you live in Oak Park, commute from Forest Park, or drive in from La Grange, it’s worth the trip. There’s nothing cookie-cutter about this bakery (though there are a lot of cookies).
Sweet, Safe, and So Much Fun
At the end of the day, Crumb Crusher Bakery is about community. It’s about saying yes to everyone who walks through the door, no matter their needs or tastes. If you’ve been hunting for a place that makes nut-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free options that don’t taste like afterthoughts, head to 805 South Boulevard and see what Chelsea and her team have dreamed up.
Grab a latte, pick a cupcake (or three), and let the colors and kindness of this shop remind you what makes Oak Park shine. Because in a world full of crumbs, Crumb Crusher turns them into joy.