From a weekend pop-up in Astoria to a nationally loved cookie brand, Chip City has scaled on the strength of quality, creativity, and smart systems. We sat down with Shaun Vanalphen, Managing Partner at Chip City, to talk origin story, operations, the tech behind weekly rotating menus, how Stream fits into their delivery stack, and what’s next as they expand into new markets.
1. Brand Origin & Growth
Chip City began in a small space in Astoria, Queens, when two childhood friends decided to settle a friendly competition over who could bake the best cookie. What started as a weekend pop-up quickly grew into a local favorite, with lines out the door and a loyal following. From those humble beginnings, Chip City has evolved into a nationally recognized cookie brand known for its signature rotating menu and oversized, indulgent cookies. Our growth has been driven by community connection, consistent quality, and a relentless focus on creating joyful, nostalgic experiences—one cookie at a time.
2. Technology & Operations Mindset
Behind every great cookie is a great system. As Chip City has scaled, technology has become the backbone of our operations—allowing us to maintain consistency, speed, and simplicity across every location. From managing real-time inventory and rotating menus to ensuring seamless in-store and digital experiences, we view technology as a critical ingredient in our recipe for success. We look for tools that make our team’s jobs easier and our customers’ experiences smoother—keeping our focus where it belongs: on baking amazing cookies.
3. Challenges Before Stream
Before partnering with Stream, managing POS data and third-party delivery integrations was cumbersome and time-consuming. Each location had to juggle multiple systems and manually update menus across different delivery platforms. This led to inconsistent product listings, pricing discrepancies, and lost efficiency for our team. The process was complex, especially as our menu rotated weekly—technology wasn’t keeping pace with the speed of our business.
4. The Stream Partnership
Stream has completely simplified how we manage digital ordering and delivery. Their platform seamlessly integrates our POS with all major delivery partners, so updates now flow automatically. That means our team no longer has to manually adjust menus or pricing across platforms each week. The difference has been immediate: fewer errors, faster updates, and a lot less operational stress. Stream has allowed us to focus more on growth and creativity rather than backend maintenance—something every fast-scaling brand needs.
5. Looking Ahead
Chip City is continuing to expand into new markets across the country, introducing our signature cookies to more communities while exploring new product categories and digital experiences. As we grow, technology will remain central to how we scale efficiently and stay connected with our customers. From loyalty programs to streamlined digital ordering, our goal is to make every Chip City experience—from the first click to the last crumb—simple, consistent, and delightful.
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If you’re a multi-unit restaurant brand looking to simplify your order and menu management - or a technology company interested in integrating with Stream’s platform - we’d love to connect. Reach out to learn how Stream’s API and integration solutions can help power seamless digital ordering and delivery experiences at scale.
