Philadelphia Corner Marks Birthplace of Girl Scout Cookies, Now a 200 Million Box Tradition

The nationwide tradition of selling Girl Scout cookies can be traced back to a single street corner in Philadelphia nearly a century ago.

In 1932, a group of Girl Scouts and their parents experimented with baking cookies in bulk at Philadelphia Gas and Electric, now known as PECO. The ovens at the company’s location near Broad and Arch streets became the birthplace of what would eventually grow into the largest youth-led fundraiser in the country.

According to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, parents who volunteered with the organization asked if they could use the company’s ovens to bake cookies to support troop fundraising efforts. The scent of freshly baked cookies drifting through the streets quickly attracted curious passersby — and eager customers.

The following year, the cookies were baked again at the same location, and by 1934 the Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia partnered with Keebler to produce a commercial cookie called Refoils. Promotions were shared through churches, newspapers, radio stations, and streetcars.

The early effort was a success, selling more than 110,000 boxes and helping fund programs and activities for Girl Scouts. The concept spread quickly, and within a few years the national Girl Scouts organization adopted the cookie sale model.

Today, Girl Scouts across the United States sell roughly 200 million boxes of cookies each year. The program helps girls develop entrepreneurship, leadership, and financial skills while raising money for local activities and community projects.

More than 90 years after that first baking experiment in Philadelphia, the Girl Scout cookie sale remains a beloved tradition with roots in a simple idea — turning homemade cookies into opportunity.

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