Our Story

Dorothy’s Sweet Shoppe provides experiential opportunities for participants to practice customer service and social skills with the community. Through culinary arts education, individuals move from bakery work to café scenarios focusing on customer service, store cleanliness, and filling customer orders.

Dorothy’s is open to the public creating a forum for bringing the world in and cultivating interaction that leads to fuller lives for participants and the community. All products sold are baked, packaged, and sold by the participants of Gateway to Learning with proceeds benefiting the organization.

Dorothy's Sweet Shoppe is located in the Lincoln Square neighborhood just a stone's throw from Northcenter, Ravenswood, Andersonville, West Ridge, and Albany Park. 

WATCH Dorothy's in action on WGN's Chicago's Best.