The results are in, and 42,000 voters chose a new “Coolest Thing Made in PA” last week! The Eat’n Park Smiley Cookie – an iconic bakery item originating in Titusville, PA, and served at Pittsburgh-based Eat’n Park restaurants – emerged victorious in the competition’s championship round to take home the 2026 “Coolest Thing Made in PA” title. Coming in as a strong second place was Denim Coffee, a small-batch brewer based out of Shippensburg, PA.
“From our public bracket launch in mid-March to the fun and engaging ways this year’s contestants turned out the vote, this year’s contest was an incredible showcase of Pennsylvania’s excellence in manufacturing and brand loyalty,” PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein said in a press release. “At the end, the championship round was down to the wire – the Smiley Cookie took the title with just 16 votes! It just goes to show how passionate brand lovers are and why we always look forward to the ‘Coolest Thing Made in PA’ competition – there are so many amazing products made here and beloved across the Commonwealth, the nation, and worldwide. Congratulations to Eat’n Park on their well-deserved victory!”
The Eat’n Park Smiley Cookie was introduced in 1986 by Eat’n Park’s former CEO and Chairman, Jim Broadhurst, and in the four decades since its creation, the Smiley Cookie has become a symbol of comfort, nostalgia, and Pennsylvania-made quality. More information about the cookie’s history and ordering options can be found at www.smileycookie.com.
This year’s “Coolest Thing Made in PA” contest generated more than 40,000 votes via the PA Chamber’s social media networks, amassed over 500,000 social media impressions, and garnered dozens of earned media stories statewide. 2026 competition highlights included an entertaining social media series with finalist Denim Coffee, a new “Battle Back Round” that drove thousands of brand loyalists to the PA Chamber’s website to vote for their favorites to have a chance in the second round of the contest, and the “Made in PA Madness” program on WTAJ in the Altoona-Johnstown market that spotlighted the contest week-to-week.
The competition featured 56 PA-made products representing a wide range of industries and every region of the Commonwealth. Nominees were matched head-to-head in a bracket-style format that paid homage to America250, honoring Pennsylvania’s role in our nation’s founding. More information about this year’s contest can be found at www.pachamber.org/coolestthing.