Businesses in Montgomery County have been working around the clock to stay afloat, while keeping employees, and customers safe during the COVID-19 crisis.

Their hard work and innovation has not gone unnoticed. Each week, The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board is sharing their stories.

Lochel’s Bakery earned national attention for their “presidential cookies.” The Hatboro bakery, which has been family-owned for three generations, started selling cookies iced with the names of Barack Obama and John McCain in 2008. The bakery invited customers to purchase cookies of their preferred presidential candidate and then added up the results.

They might not have had a tiny piece of paper wrapped inside but these turned out to be some real fortune cookies.

Lochel’s Bakery cookie count correctly predicted the previous three presidential elections. So of course, the eyes and the stomachs of the nation turned to Lochel’s in the fall of 2020.

“It’s very overwhelming what’s happened in the past month,” said Kathleen Lochel. “Prior to the election cookies, we had a very strong customer base. The election cookies brought new customers, some from across the country. People love us because of our longevity, presence in the community, and what we do for others.”

Customers flooded to the bakery in Hatboro to cast their cookie vote.

The final totals:

Donald Trump: 31,804

Joe Biden: 5,750.

Even before the cookies were tallied one thing was certain, Lochel’s Bakery is a more than just election cookies. They have a vast menu of custom cakes, cupcakes, and donuts (their top sellers).

For as divisive as politics has become, Lochel’s Bakery’s national attention earned them an expanded following and illustrated the power of small businesses, creativity, and community.

Continue reading the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board’s Main Street feature on Lochel’s Bakery here.