Nate's Oatmeal Cookies Opens June 7 on SE Belmont

The original oatmeal pecan raisin cookie that started it all. Photo credit: Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies

A new bakery, focusing on the world of oatmeal cookies, will open tomorrow, June 7 on SE Belmont and 33rd. Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies will offer a number of variations on this American staple of a baked good—and is a kind of “pandemic success story,” if you will.

The Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies Origin Story

Oatmeal cookies. I love them—their flavors are warm, nostalgic, and comforting to many of us. Nate Lown, founder of Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies, craved his family’s version of oatmeal cookies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2020 started making them himself. He shared them with friends and family, and started selling them at the restaurant he worked at; he also sold them at local farmers markets (Beaverton, Hillsdale, and PSU).

And now, he has his very own storefront on SE Belmont, in a building built in 1892. More recently than that, this space has been home to The Nerd Out and Utopia Cafe. It’s across the street from the H-Mart, and his other food neighbors also include Taqueria Los Puñales, Aalto Lounge, Stumptown Coffee, Daily Fuel (who resides in the space that used to hold the wonderful Suzette Creperie), and Straight From New York Pizza.

You can read the extended backstory of Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies on their website, but I’ll highlight this: “A few months went by, and the cookies were selling like crazy, so I really began to wonder, ‘If everyone loves oatmeal cookies so much, why hasn’t anyone started a business that only sells different flavors of oatmeal cookies?’ It was time for me to make a decision. Am I going to do this for real? Or is this just a pandemic pastime?” I hear you, Nate—it’s a risk to go out on your own, but can be very fulfilling.

What Kind of Oatmeal Cookies?

So now he is poised to open his own shop. He shared some of his plans with me earlier this week: “My plans for Belmont is to keep it simple and consistent. I’m starting with 6 flavors but I’d like to add more as soon as we are able.” Those six flavors are:

Oatmeal Raisin Pecan (the OG cookie, read his description of what it is to eat one, here)
Chocolate Chip
Cherry Almond (a classic combo)
Triple Chocolate (GF)
Snickerdoodle (GF)
Trailblazer (GF)

All the cookies are vegan and local and organic ingredients are used whenever possible. Eventually Nate’s hope to offer 12 different kinds of oatmeal cookies.

On Friday, June 7—opening day—they will be open at 11am. They will also be open Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 6pm (or until sold out), as well. Regular hours will be Fridayt to Sunday 11am to 6pm (or until sold out).

Best of luck to Nate and his team on their opening tomorrow! I hope they enjoy great success at the bakery. Stop on in if you can.

Nate’s Oatmeal Cookies [opening June 2024]
3308 SE Belmont, Portland
natesoatmealcookies.com | Instagram