Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor
Dirty Dough Offers Decadent Stuffed Cookies
My husband walks along Route 1 early each morning as part of his exercise routine. One day, he returned to the house with an incredulous look on his face, saying, “A sign advertising something called Dirty Dough has gone up in one of the empty shops off Lindendale. Have you ever heard of that?” I had not, so I went to the Google Machine—admittedly, with a little trepidation about what I might find—and was quite relieved to see that it’s a bakery chain and not, as the name might suggest, an overt money-laundering business. The more I read about the company, the more I really wanted to taste one of their signature stuffed cookies.
I learned that Dirty Dough was founded in Arizona in 2018 and features variations of one main product: a stuffed, 3-layered ooey gooey cookie. The company was purchased in 2019 by young entrepreneur Bennett Maxwell, who incorporated it in Utah, opened 55 franchises in more than 13 states, and negotiated contracts for up to 450 more locations. The rapid expansion and popular appeal of the cookies catapulted the company’s worth, leading to a successful acquisition bid by Craveworthy Brands in January 2024. Along the way, the well-known cookie company Crumbl sued Dirty Dough for trademark infringement; that case was settled privately, and Dirty Dough benefited from national attention surrounding the “cookie wars.” Suddenly, the company’s website had a looooooong list of “Opening Soon!” locations, including one for Laurel, Maryland.
Meanwhile, back in Oakcrest, I waited. Weeks and weeks went by, as they often do in this end of town once an “Opening Soon” restaurant sign goes up. Finally, in early August, hubby advised that the OPEN sign was lit up, so I hightailed it right over there. The baker on duty was very helpful and friendly. He noted that the company’s name refers to “dirtying up” the cookies by adding ingredients, much like the concept of “dirty rice” in Creole cuisines. He explained the cookie menu and buying options and highlighted the flavors of the week. They all sounded so yummy, so it was a hard decision; ultimately, I bought two cookies, which were warmed up and individually boxed for takeout: Cookies-n-Cream (a vanilla cookie stuffed with Oreo cookie chunks and white chocolate chips) and “the Reverse,” accurately described as a “chocolate and peanut butter explosion.”
Reader, I was not disappointed. These cookies are HEAVEN. Or they’re the Devil in disguise, depending on how you look at it. As a lifelong sweet-aholic, I am a bit concerned about the existence of these tempting treats within easy walking distance of my house. The cookies definitely live up to the hype—but be forewarned that they are pricey, at about $5 each (a bit less if you buy multi-packs), and also chock-full of calories, ranging from 650 to over 800 calories per cookie. One person in my household (sadly, not me) is trying to gain some weight, so we will likely use that as justification to stop in regularly. As for me, I guess I’ll be doing extra swimming laps to work off my new “dirty” habit.
Beltsville Residents Lament Loss of Well-Loved Service Company
As of July 1, Beltsville residents noticed a new name on the side of their trash pickup trucks. After over 75 years of being served by local, family-owned Beltsville Refuse, now the trucks said Bates—a company that has served South Laurel and other areas for many years. This change reportedly was unannounced and coincided with a change in trash pickup days, meaning that confusion abounded.
Many posts started to appear on the NextDoor app and Facebook, generating hundreds of comments and complaints about the situation. Residents in several neighborhoods complained about trash not being picked up, with some saying they had gone almost three weeks without a pickup in the middle of a heat wave, creating a hazardous and smelly situation. Photos showed overflowing garbage cans and recycling bins. Someone even posted a video showing a trash truck hitting their car, knocking off its rear bumper—and then driving away. As the angry posts continued, a few people reached out to the county and learned that a new contract had been awarded to Bates and that Beltsville Refuse had not submitted a bid. This, of course, led to speculation about why the latter company had not bid on the new contract.
Beltsville Refuse owners Darnell Gross and Sheila Gross Simpkins later set the record straight in social media posts. Darnell Gross said that it was “totally not true” that they had chosen not to bid; rather, their small business was unable to comply with a “new stipulation” included in the newest contract and was ineligible to bid. “It wasn’t because we were no longer interested in maintaining our business or services to the community,” he explained. Sheila noted that the company was started in 1947 by Lester E. Gross and his wife Theresa, whose children and other family members kept the business going after the founders’ passing. She added a thank-you “to all the residents for many years of loyalty and support. We consider you our extended family.” While neither offered specifics on the new contract stipulation, other commenters pointed to a requirement that trash vehicles could be no older than model year 2021; replacing older vehicles likely would have been too expensive for the small business.
Ultimately, residents seemed to agree that Bates deserves patience while adapting to new routes; egregious situations can be reported to 311. The thanks and commendations then poured in for the Gross family, described as being friendly to work with, good neighbors, and major contributors to the community who give of their time and services when needed.
Grocery Outlet Opens in Nearby Calverton
In other Beltsville-centric news, a new Grocery Outlet opened in early July and quickly became a local favorite. (And yes, the name of this grocery outlet is actually Grocery Outlet!) The company has over 400 locations nationwide and sells brand-name products at a deep discount. The Calverton location is very active on Facebook (search for the Calverton Grocery Outlet page), listing daily specials and showing new products as they arrive. Grocery Outlet is open from 8 am to 9 pm daily and is located at 11705 Beltsville Drive, just 5 miles south of Laurel.
Diane Mezzanotte is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for The Laurel History Boys. In addition to covering Laurel city municipal news, she also reports on all things from South Laurel.
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