Candles Out, Cookies In
February 23, 2026
• Sky Candle plans to shutter after opening in the summer of 2024, while an independent cookie store celebrated its grand opening on Saturday.
As one Needham storefront opened its doors for its first customers, another eyed closing its Needham doors for good.
Elite Dough Cookies opened up shop Saturday afternoon, welcoming dozens of customers inside for warm cookies and other sweet treats at 54 Highland Ave. The space once housed Cookies by Design, which Kai Moreto ran before launching Elite Dough — first as a food truck, and now as a brick-and-mortar. Moreto previously said he plans to keep the food truck in operation to sell cookies in Greater Boston.
Moreto offered a free “jumbo” cookie to the first 100 patrons. Dozens of people lined up down Highland Avenue Saturday morning, nearly up to the Newton border. As store staff and Moreto’s loved ones filed in and out of the front doors, wafts of baked cookies drifted through the air.
Just before opening, Moreto peaked out to see the sizable crowd. “I’m gonna get emotional,” he said, then cutting a ribbon to commemorate the occasion.
Flavors include s’mores, Reese’s PB Cup, the chocolate chunk, nutty Nutella and more, including a cookie of the month — February’s is red velvet Oreo cheesecake. They also offer cookies with ice cream, a cookie latte, hot chocolate and other delights.
Elite Dough Cookies is open Monday-Thursday from 12-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 12-11 p.m. and Sunday from 12-8 p.m.
“Really counting on the local support so we can be your new cookie shop for years to come,” Moreto wrote in a Facebook post.
The store joins Cookie Monstah as Needham’s second cookie store.
Sky Candle to Close
In Needham Center, Sky Candle at 1096 Great Plain Ave. plans to close up shop. The retailer, which offers premade candles and a candle-making experience, confirmed the impending closure in an email, though owners Albert Feldman and Greg Dekermenjian did not disclose when that will be.
“While we do not have a specific final date to share just yet, the decision was made thoughtfully after careful evaluation of our overall business strategy, operating costs, and long-term growth plans,” the statement read. “As a small, independent brand, we are constantly assessing how to best allocate our limited resources in a way that allows us to remain strong, creative, and sustainable for the future.”
Sky Candle moved to Needham in August 2024, taking the space of Your CBD Store. The candle business continues to operate its flagship store in Boston’s South End.
As the center loses one store, it will gain two new ones, and both are bookstores. The Bookshop of Needham, at 283 Chestnut St., hosted its grand opening earlier this month, while Chapters on Chestnut at 7 Chestnut St., aims to open this fall.
Haskell Insurance Agency, a longtime Needham business, recently relocated to Dedham Square after landlord Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham took over the building at 199 Chestnut St. The hospital also owns neighboring parcels and has acquired additional space in the community for further expansion of services and parking.
