Today we’d like to introduce you to Chocolate Jones.
Hi Chocolate, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
After Covid I asked the question, “what do I do now?”
I started dreaming of making these large cookies and topping them. I wrote down each cookie for a few weeks and then started seeing 777 every where, either an address, a total, my change or a license plate,
I told a friend and she states it’s the answer to whatever question I asked.
I saw that it meant completion so I took it as a sign that we are meant to open a cookie store.
I told my husband and he said “let’s do it”. We started making the cookies. We tested them with our neighbors first. Eventually we started doing tent and table at local business’ and events, Fish House Cafe’, The Gallery dispensary, Spanaway dog days and parkland car show,
Eventually we ended up doing events in thurston county with South Sound Artisan Market that were held at Capital Mall and that’s where our store is located today, across from the movie theatre.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not a smooth road but I can say that we were guided and in good hands
Our landlord decided to raise the rent from 1300 to 1600 to 2700 in just a few months.
We had lived there for 8 years but it was time to go. Either pay the higher rent and live paycheck to paycheck only being able to afford rent and bills or leave. We ended up homeless.
We went to safe parking, put our things in storage and found a commissary kitchen to work out of.
We were helped by Retreat homes, through the church that did the safe parking.
It was hard to place us because we had our dog Moses and we were not going to leave him anywhere,
Then we stayed at tiny homes all while doing events and pop ups.
People donated towards our store. We signed a contract with the mall but had to get up the funds and also equipment.
We just got what we needed for the lease in full, on the very day that we needed it.
Our old neighbor John, came out and did my counters and Danielle was a tiny homes resident that did painting and remodeling work,He painted our store.
We never had a store before so going through the process there are so many things you just don’t know, has to be done. The health dept was very intimidating and I missed the first deadline but Capital mall gave me grace and the health dept walked me through it. They were great! The fire dept, building dept, internet and utillities for the store. The car broke down and we were still getting money up for equipment. We bought a cheap used car and eventually it also broke down but at least it was after we had the store up and running. We used Klarna and after pay and also loans through Square. It was a journey and very challenging.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I where many hats. I bake and decide the menu for the store.
I expanded our menu from cookies with toppings to a cookies & milk store, where we see how far we can push cookies & milk.
We now have cookie dough bites, whoopie pie cups, cookie butter cups, banana bowls, cobbler bowls, a crown cookie line, cookie & milkshake that we call a creamice and even doggie dough.
I’m most proud of the decision to make cookie butter out of our left over cookies so there’s no waste and it have bumped our cookie desserts to a new level. We use it for cookie butter cups, the creamice drinks, whoopie pie cups, a nice scoop in the middle of the banana bolws and a swirl of it in our brookies. I think that’s what set’s us apart from others. I do everything with a love energy. I make sure I’m in a good space before I touch the products. I turn on the cookie songs and get in a flow. Yes, we have cookie songs that we write and use suno to pair with music. Our songs can be found on spotify under 777ish cookie crew.
Now we are forming a non-profit to fill whatever gap we can. Our focus is food security and housing with our store being a funding arm of the collective. I have always been known as the cookie lady. We baked for our church in AZ, our sons school and of course we sold them as a side hustle in az where we have a cottage license.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Always good luck. We have come across some great business owners, advice and help. Sure things happen but it always works out for the best.
Pricing:
- we have a $5 dollar friday menu
- Items from $5 to $7.75
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.777ishcookies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/777ish_cookies/
