Coastal Cookies made a name for itself at the Jacksonville Landing as the premier place to get a hot, gooey dessert. However, when the iconic shopping institution announced it would be demolished, the little shop closed its doors.
Michelle Rhoades kept the dream of cookies alive, however. According to the Jacksonville Daily Record, she traded her job as a jewelry store owner to keep the ovens warm, buying Coastal’s equipment and opening First Coast Cookies, which she brought to the Regency Square Mall in 2019. Now, she is opening a new store at Jacksonville’s Westside.
While the Recency Square Mall has seen its own struggles from declining foot traffic, First Coast Cookies has still been one of the mall’s few destinations still bringing customers in. Selling cookies, cookie cakes, hot dogs, and coffee, the little shop packs a lot to entice customers.
“On the weekends, we have lines here waiting to order cookies,” she told the Record. “People come in just to get cookies. It’s amazing.”
Rhoades intends on keeping her location at the Regency and the new Westside location will have 1,956 square feet and be located at 4610 San Juan Ave. She said she hopes to open this new shop either before or soon after Christmas.
As far as the future goes, more First Coast Cookies are to come. Rhoades said she intends to open one location a year, although she is unsure if she will franchise. Her next target is North Jacksonville, and then Mandarin and the Intracoastal West.
She also intends on selling ice cream soon.
