Great American Cookie Co., doing business as Great American Cookies, is an American chain of independently owned and operated franchised stores that specialize in gourmet cookies, especially cookie cakes. It has over 290 stores in the U.S., particularly in the Southeast as well as Puerto Rico and Guam, most commonly located in malls. The company was founded in 1977 and has its headquarters in Atlanta. It has been a franchise brand in the portfolio of Global Franchise Group since 2010.
History
Great American Cookie Co. was founded by future CEO Michael J. Coles and partner Arthur Karp, who each invested $4,000 to develop a business selling cookies on the strength of a family recipe passed on to Karp's wife.[1] That same year the first store opened in Atlanta's Perimeter Mall.[2]
The first store in Perimeter Mall became successful in its first month, and the company first became franchised the year after its opening.