New Bakeries, a Cookie Shop and Boot Barn Headline Latest Mobile and Baldwin Retail Moves

MOBILE, Ala. — Coastal Alabama’s sweet tooth is getting more options. A cookie shop is preparing to open in west Mobile and two new bakeries have opened their doors in Baldwin County, part of a busy stretch of retail and real estate activity that also includes a large new western-wear store in Daphne and a major remodel at a Mobile Target. For residents keeping track of new bakeries Mobile Baldwin shoppers can visit, here is a look at the latest moves.

Cuddly Cookies coming to Hillwood Shopping Center

Cuddly Cookies has leased 1,150 square feet in Hillwood Shopping Center at 2370 Hillcrest Road in Mobile, next to the center’s Publix supermarket. Chris Harle of White-Spunner Realty represented the landlord in the deal.

The cookie store plans to open by the end of the year, which would put it in place for the holiday season, traditionally one of the busiest times of year for bakeries and dessert shops. Hillwood Shopping Center sits along Hillcrest Road in west Mobile, a heavily traveled corridor lined with neighborhoods, schools and retail centers.

Two new bakeries open in Baldwin County

On the Eastern Shore and in south Baldwin, two new bakeries have recently opened.

Joyfulls Bakery opened in downtown OWA at 101 S. OWA Blvd. in Foley. The shop is allergen-friendly, with a menu that is completely free of gluten, wheat, dairy, nuts and dyes. That makes it an option for families managing celiac disease, food allergies or dietary sensitivities, who often find traditional bakeries difficult to navigate because of the risk of cross-contact with common allergens.

OWA, the resort and entertainment destination developed by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, opened in Foley in 2017. Its downtown district features shops, restaurants and entertainment alongside an amusement park and the Tropic Falls water park, drawing both tourists and locals.

Bake Blue Bakery opened at 6880 Spanish Fort Blvd. in Spanish Fort. The bakery was opened by a mother-and-son team, Debra and Reed Pennington. Spanish Fort Boulevard is one of the city’s main commercial corridors, close to Interstate 10 and the Eastern Shore’s growing residential neighborhoods.

Why allergen-free baking is growing

Bakeries like Joyfulls are part of a broader shift in how Americans eat. Under federal law, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognizes nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. Sesame became the ninth major allergen at the start of 2023. Foods containing those ingredients must be clearly labeled.

Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten damages the small intestine, is estimated to affect about 1 in 100 people worldwide. For people with the condition, even small amounts of gluten from shared equipment can cause problems, which is why dedicated gluten-free kitchens are prized.

Interest in dye-free foods has also grown. In 2025, the FDA announced plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the U.S. food supply, and many shoppers have begun looking for products made without artificial colors.

Boot Barn leases 20,000 square feet in Daphne

In the largest deal in this roundup, Boot Barn has leased 20,000 square feet in Jubilee Square at 6850 U.S. 90 in Daphne. Robert Cook of Vallas Realty and Joe Roe Burton of Burton Property Group handled the lease for the property, while Bradley Keller of Southpace Properties represented Boot Barn.

Boot Barn is a specialty retail chain with more than 500 stores in the United States. It sells western and work-related apparel, footwear and accessories, including cowboy boots, work boots, jeans, hats and outerwear. Founded in California in 1978, the company has expanded steadily in recent years.

Jubilee Square is a shopping center on U.S. 90 in Daphne, one of the Eastern Shore’s main retail areas. The new store will add another national retailer to a Baldwin County market that has seen steady commercial growth along with its rising population.

More retail and real estate news

• Target remodel at Bel Air: The Target store at the Shoppes at Bel Air, 3299 Bel Air Mall in Mobile, recently completed a major remodel. The project included expanding the store’s grocery department, which now offers a larger selection including fresh produce. Bel Air is one of Mobile’s longest-established shopping destinations, located in midtown near the Airport Boulevard and Interstate 65 interchange.
• Glass Road RV Park expansion: The owners of Glass Road RV Park received planning approval to add five RV sites to their property at the intersection of Patterson Road and Glass Road in the Wilcox area. The park currently has 14 RV sites on 3.78 acres, so the expansion will bring the total to 19.

RV parks have been in demand along the Gulf Coast, where seasonal visitors, often called snowbirds, spend winter months away from colder climates, and where traveling workers and families also rely on RV sites for longer stays.

What it means for shoppers

Taken together, the latest deals show continued investment in neighborhood retail on both sides of Mobile Bay. Small, locally owned businesses such as Bake Blue and Joyfulls are opening alongside national chains such as Boot Barn and established anchors such as Target and Publix.

Shoppers interested in the new bakeries can check the businesses’ social media pages for hours, menus and opening announcements. Cuddly Cookies is targeting an opening by the end of the year, while an opening date for the Boot Barn store in Daphne has not been announced.