A growing Florida-based cookie company is migrating north this fall. Business partners Johnny Ciarlante, Christian Williams, and Joe Lees are currently scouting Philadelphia locations for three Blueprint Cookies stores.
While the entrepreneurs have not yet signed leases, Ciarlante, speaking to What Now Philadelphia about the venture, states that they are circling locations in Rittenhouse Square and Old City. The partners hope to sign leases by August 1.
Ciarlante explains that the objective is to open the stores by fall. The trio is tentatively aiming for a November first debut.
Ciarlante, Williams, and Lees will be in charge of franchise territory ranging from Fishtown to University City. The partners bring a unique and disparate range of experience to their business venture. Ciarlante is a business consultant, Williams works as a real estate underwriter, and Lees owns Wellcraft Construction.
While these qualifications may not immediately evoke the smells of freshly-baked cookies, the partners bring a refined sense of business acumen and a close personal and working relationship to the Philadelphia Blueprint expansion.
Ciarlante and Williams are long-time friends, initially drawn together by a love for soccer. Ciarlante describes the partnership and its history, saying “Christian and I have been best friends since elementary school. We grew up playing competitive sports against each other, which led to a strong bond between us. From there, we have been attached at the hip – playing the same sports and positions, having similar classes and majors, and even being interested in the same business fields (construction, real estate, and finance). We even currently play on the same amateur level soccer team at Vereinigung Erzgebirge in Warminster. We believe franchising Blueprint Cookies is the first step to a very long and successful business journey between us two. Joe is a very close family friend of our parents, and his construction background and resources in Philadelphia led us to asking him to become our third Partner.”
The Philadelphia locations will be Blueprints’ first stores outside of Florida. The cookie company, founded in 2019, focuses on a variety of gourmet cookies. Blueprint offers a changing weekly menu featuring flavors like rocky road and blueberry cheesecake. Additionally, the store always carries chocolate chip and classic sugar cookies.
