After realizing that Chicago lacked specialty cookie shops, Jeff Steinberg, a screenwriter, and Joe Bova, an animator, decided to leave their careers behind in Hollywood and open their own joint since they both shared a love of baking. The duo’s Cookie Bar specializes in freshly made chocolate chip treats such as hibiscus-chocolate and spicy chipotle-chocolate, but also offers many other delectable varieties, including vegan and gluten-free baked goods for health-conscious folks.