It's Only Natural: Home of Robbie's Gluten-Free Cookies
Robert Halley, creator of Robbie's Gluten-Free Cookies, says that his goodies are a labor of love.
Sara Emmert
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An older gentleman dressed in a red plaid kilt and a t-shirt that says "Real Men Wear Kilts!" sets down his box and walks over to the sampling table where a customer is reading the cookie labels for "Robbie's Gluten-Free Cookies".
"Care to try the best cookies in the world?" says Robert Halley, the 65 year-old creator of Robbie's Cookies. His face gleams with a light and charisma that fills every space of It's Only Natural, a health food store located in Stuyvesant Plaza.
Robert Halley began baking cookies for his wife Martha over ten years ago, as he tried to duplicate her favorite expensive brand. Soon after the beginning of his baking niche, Martha was diagnosed with cancer. Halley began donating his cookies to every doctor's office and clinic she visited, but in 2003 she lost her battle with cancer.
Halley continued to give away his cookies to anyone who was interested. As time went on Halley estimated that he gave away over 30,000 cookies. People that loved his cookies believe he was insane to just give away his cookies, while making no profit.
"I encouraged him to start selling his cookies," said Rebecca, owner of It's Only Natural. "My store has been specializing in gluten-free products for the past three years now and there is a strong demand for it and I've always loved Rob's cookies, so naturally I wanted his product in my store."
According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, celiac disease prevents the consumption of gluten because it damages the small intestine, which does not allow food to digest properly. So those with this disease have to stick to a gluten-free diet only to prevent relapse.
According to Rebecca at It's Only Natural, an increase in the gluten-free market has risen due to popular dieting trends. The gluten-free diet trend has been supported by celebrities like Elizabeth Hasselbeck from The View with her book The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide.
The U.S. News posted an article online in 2008, discussing how the gluten-free diet is "a cure for some, but a fad for most." Yet this fad is what drives It's Only Natural as it continues to find new gluten-free products each week.
As It's Only Natural gets new products every week, the store also gets a new flavor of Robbie's Cookies each week too.
"I usually try to make a new flavor each week," said Halley.
Halley bakes all of his cookies at his house in Ravena, NY with a certified gluten-free kitchen and oven. Halley makes his cookies from all organic ingredients and keeps them virtually sodium-free.
Robbie's Cookies come in 22 unique flavors, although Halley has created 45 flavors total. Some of the flavors include, Triple Lemon Lavender, Five Way Just Ginger, White Chocolate Lavender with Hazelnuts, Maple Smoked Almond with Bourbon, and Chipotle Chili Chocolate with Smoked Almonds.
Halley admits that he is probably spending more then he is making off the cookies right now, but that doesn't matter to him.
"My favorite part is when I ask someone if they would like a free cookie and they decline because of celiac and I turn to them and say, 'Well this is your lucky day.'"