A beloved New York City bakery born in the West Village is preparing to sweeten up Philadelphia with its first-ever location.
Magnolia Bakery will debut at 204 S. 17th St., with franchise owners John Candela and Jake Klein leading the expansion. The duo met in college and maintained their connection over the years while gaining industry experience before venturing into business together.
“Philadelphia is such a great market for a brand like Magnolia. It’s the closest major metropolitan city to Manhattan. We have a presence in the Amtrak Moynihan Train Hall, which connects Philly to New York City, so there’s also tons of brand awareness,” Klein told Whatnow Philadelphia.
Although Philadelphia was always on their radar, Rittenhouse Square ultimately sealed the deal.
“The restaurants, the retail—we feel like we fit there really well. It’s the brands that are in Rittenhouse that complement us, and we complement them, so it was a no-brainer,” Candela told Whatnow Philadelphia.
Klein and Candela’s love for the bakery dates back to their childhoods, as both grew up in North Jersey.
“Magnolia was always one of the destinations on the list when I’d go to New York with family and friends,” Klein said.
Candela added, “I grew up in and out of New York City and was exposed to Magnolia as they grew throughout the city. I ended up moving into the city and lived a block from the Columbus Circle location.”
Both have fond memories of Magnolia’s iconic banana pudding, made with fresh bananas and vanilla wafers.
Magnolia Bakery opened in 1996 at the corner of Bleecker St. and W. 11th St. Four years later, the bakery appeared on the hit television series “Sex and the City,” sparking a nationwide cupcake craze.
Since then, Magnolia Bakery has expanded beyond New York City, opening locations in California, Chicago, Kentucky, Ohio and Utah. The brand is also preparing to enter New Jersey with an upcoming Mt. Laurel location led by the duo, opening Nov. 17.
The Rittenhouse shop will follow Magnolia Bakery’s signature format, featuring on-site baking and a full assortment of treats, including cupcakes, pudding, brownies, cakes, cheesecakes and cookies.
Down the line, the bakery may even introduce Philadelphia-inspired treats honoring the city’s beloved sports teams.
The duo has brought on chef Cathie Pastor to oversee baking operations at the shop.
“Cathie taught culinary and pastry for the greater part of the last decade, and before that, she was a pastry chef at Union League of Philadelphia—also more than a decade. We lean on her a ton, and we’re excited to see what she’s going to do,” Klein said.
Klein and Candela are eager to bring Magnolia Bakery’s beloved Manhattan experience to the City of Brotherly Love.
“I’m excited about building on our local market. I’m excited to welcome our guests into our stores and to make everybody smile. That’s what we do,” Candela said.
The Rittenhouse bakery plans to open in mid-to-late spring 2027. Visit the Magnolia Bakery website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.
