A California-based cookie shop has officially returned to Johnson County after a months-long hiatus.
After undergoing a change in franchise ownership, sweets shop Cookie Co. reopened both of its Johnson County storefronts at the end of July.
Cookie Co. has shops in Overland Park and Lenexa
- The brand originally opened its Lenexa store at 8748 Loiret Blvd. in April 2023.
- Cookie Co.’s Overland Park location followed a month later, at 7765 W. 159th St., at the Bluhawk development.
- Both stores operate under the regular hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Cookie Co. offers jumbo-sized cookies in various flavors
Every week, the cookie shop serves a rotating menu of six flavors.
Three of those flavors (chocolate chip, frosted sugar, and “monster” with M&Ms) remain consistent each week. The other three switch up every week, with this week’s menu offering frosted animal, caramel apple crumb, and peanut butter & jelly cookies.
Cookie Co. got its start in Redlands, California, in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Elisa Thomas, a longtime baker, launched the venture out of her garage.
“People would come and get their cookies during (the pandemic) from my front porch,” she said. “It was kind of like a sweet treat during a hard time when a lot of people were home.”
Cookie Co. took off from there, with Elisa and her husband, Matt Thomas, opening the brand’s flagship store in August 2020. Today, the company has earned a nationwide following, now operating in several states across the country.
“All the recipes are mine, and we continue to add more to the menu,” Elisa said. “We’ve definitely learned a lot over the past five years and grown immensely — personally and mentally and just in the realm of our business.”
Cookie Co.’s local growth will continue
Both of the Johnson County stores have been closed since November — during which time, the brand’s founders say that Cookie Co.’s local customers have missed it.
“Since the Kansas stores closed down, we’ve probably received 300 to 400 comments or (direct messages) from folks in the Kansas City market,” said Matt Thomas. “I think as a small business, there’s nothing more impactful and more meaningful to your customers than to be involved in the community.”
Beyond the Overland Park and Lenexa stores, Cookie Co. also has a store near the state line in Kansas City, Missouri.
Later on, Cookie Co.’s local presence will likely expand further. Though details have yet to be finalized, Amanda Baute, director of operations for Cookie Co.’s Johnson County franchises, said customer demand has made it clear that growth in the Kansas City area is in the brand’s future — both in and outside of Johnson County.
“Cookie Co. will be wherever Kansas City wants us to be,” she said. “I think it’ll be a no-brainer for us that we will be expanding over the next year throughout the greater Kansas City area.”
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