Building Community Through Cookies

BY MARY MICHAELS | PHOTOS BY JULIE PRAIRIE PHOTOGRAPHY

6004 S. Cliff Avenue

605-271-2960

Cookieco.com

Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sundays closed

Sarah Storm has always loved baking, but it was more of a hobby until last month when she and her husband Aaron opened Cookie Co. in a new development just off 69th Street and Cliff Avenue.

“I love feeding people,” says Sarah. “It’s sort of my love language. I feel like food brings people together and fosters community.”

With a degree in art and business, Sarah has worked in graphic design, photography and e-commerce.

“I love business. It’s exciting to follow other businesses to learn from them and see them succeed.”

One of those businesses she had been cheering on from the sidelines was Cookie Co., a California-based company founded by Elise and Matt Thomas.

“It all started on Instagram,” Sarah explains. “I found them on that site and started following them as they were trying to launch their business right when COVID hit. They had to shift to baking out of their house and having people pick up orders from their driveway.”

Seeing the company’s mission of striving to be a “symbol of happiness, comfort, and hope” was a big draw for Sarah, so she reached out to Cookie Co. to inquire about being a franchisee. Now, the Sioux Falls store that opened just off 69th & Cliff in February is the first Cookie Co. in South Dakota and just the second in the Midwest. The next closest location is Gretna, Nebraska.

The company tagline is right on the front window – Gourmet Cookies Made Locally. That was the other big selling point for Sarah.

“I like to tell everyone we crack our own eggs and use real butter and sugar,” she says. “When you come in, you’re looking right into our kitchen, so you can watch us mix everything from scratch.”

The store is bright and airy with its white subway tile décor and an orange-tiled accent wall at the back of the kitchen. The cookie box lids feature the same bright orange.

Sarah went out to California for training last November, and then a team of trainers came to Sioux Falls earlier this year to help get the store ready to open. The company’s founders were also here in Sioux Falls for the grand opening.

Everything started with the chocolate chip cookie when Cookie Co. first started, so that is always on the menu. Added to that are three rotating flavors that change weekly. Some flavors Sarah has already been able to feature include Monster, Fruity Pebbles, Whoopie Pie, Lemon Bar, Guava Pop Tart and Maple Bacon.

“We get a calendar that goes about three months out, so we know what’s coming,” she says. “It is so much fun to taste the new flavors.”

You can stop in for a single cookie, a 4-pack or a 12-pack. With a little advance notice, though, Sarah says, she and her team can put together additional size packs, fill a catering order and even make mini versions of their sizable cookies.

If you need something to go with your sweet treat, Cookie Co. offers a variety of flavors to create your own custom soda. You can also take home some merch, such as a sustainable cookie tin that comes with a free 4-pack and a discount for refilling it. Need a new t-shirt or tank for your workout? Pick up the one that reads, “Will Run for Cookies.”

Sarah credits her family, as well as her great team, for being able to launch this new business venture.

“I couldn’t do this without my family’s support, and our staff is really great. I’m so blessed to have them. And now, I get to bake and work with people every day, which I love.”