At Greyston Bakery, we bake delicious brownies and create meaningful job opportunities for those who have experienced barriers to employment; we hire our bakers through our renowned, inclusive Open Hiring® policy. Then we provide our bakers with ongoing training and development to enrich their work experience. 

HOW IT ALL STARTED

In 1982, our founder Bernie Glassman – aeronautical engineer turned Zen Buddhist monk and teacher – founded Greyston Bakery (in what was then known as “Greyston” Mansion in Riverdale, NY, hence our name!) to allow students at his newly founded Zen Buddhist Community to work and study. He had no professional baking experience, but had a strong passion to find a need and fill it, give back to his community and provide employment.

A couple of years later, he realized that local residents a few miles north of the monastery in Yonkers, NY needed more employment opportunities in their economically struggling community. Greyston Mansion was sold, and Greyston Bakery was set up in an old pasta manufacturing facility in Yonkers (around the corner from our current location). These were pre-brownie times, as our employees baked gourmet cakes and tarts for sale to upscale retailers in New York City, and the basis for our inclusive Open Hiring policy was born.

WE STARTED BAKING BROWNIES 5 YEARS LATER

In 1987, Bernie Glassman met Ben Cohen at a summit of socially conscious businesses held in Colorado. From there, a relationship was started (that exists to this day) – as Ben and Bernie realized that the then 9 year old Ben & Jerry’s could use some brownies from a bakery with an eye towards social involvement. From that meeting, Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream was born, and eventually Greyston Bakery evolved from baking cakes to the world’s best known and loved brownies.

Bernie passed away in 2018, but his legacy lives on in every delicious brownie and blondie that we make, whether it's destined for a pint of ice cream, or sold in a grocery store or in your favorite restaurant, or sent as a gift from our online store. We take pride in our products, and in the way we serve our community by helping a marginalized population gain valuable job and life skills.

CERTIFIED B CORP SINCE 2008

Greyston Bakery has been a certified B Corporation since 2008 – which means our efforts significantly benefit people in our local community. B Lab, which administers B Corp certification, is a non-profit network which promotes companies being a force for good, benefiting people, communities and the planet. Greyston Bakery is proud to be a part of this organization which values transparency, inclusiveness and social accountability. Learn more about our B Corp certification.

EAT BROWNIES. CHANGE LIVES.

When you order a Greyston Bakery gift, you are supporting our mission – to provide employment in our bakery to a marginalized population that has experienced barriers to employment, and to further the message of inclusive employment through the work of our parent organization, the Greyston Foundation.