by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
It’s not hard to understand why Coastal Cookie has been in business at the Landing since it opened its doors in 1987. On a mid-Friday morning — long after normal breakfast hours and well before lunchtime — the shop was relatively busy. The teller from Compass Bank seemed to be getting something different for the rest of the bank staff. A waiter at Koja was grabbing a cookie or two and coffee. Maria of Lee Nails started her day with coffee.
Those are just a few of the many regulars.
It’s the “walkbys” who seem to have no resistance to the aroma of chocolate chip, oatmeal or peanut butter cookies. One looked like she wanted to walk by, but couldn’t. A father couldn’t resist his son’s pleas. And, many others seemed to be lured in by the smell and look of fresh cookies.
Bonnie Maynard manages the store — which is owned by a gentleman in Dallas who visits about once a year — and she’s been there since 1988. Maynard said most of the time she has about five employees on staff, either longtime employees like Sharon Abdullah (10 years) or college kids who need part-time jobs.
“It’s fun and we meet a lot of people,” said Maynard, when asked why she has stayed so long. And, even after 20 years, Maynard still eats the cookies she makes. “Oh yes, everyday. If I eat one, I am doomed for the rest of the day. We don’t take a lunch, so we survive on cookies.”
Maynard said chocolate chip is the most popular cookie. Friday morning, Abdullah made a batch. Maynard asked that the recipe be kept secret, and we’ll abide by those wishes. Let’s just say there is a lot of flour, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and a few other things that combine to produce one of the most consistently good cookies around.
Interestingly, the Coastal Cookie at the Landing is the only one in the state. And, while Maynard has been at the shop for 20 years, “Bertha” has been around much longer. Bertha is the shop’s mixer and making 2,400 cookies a day is taking its toll. Maynard said Bertha has been at the shop since it was at Regency Square — long before the move to the Landing — and she’s not sure how much longer Bertha will last.
“She’s not doing so well. She’s starting to moan and groan,” said Maynard.
Over the years Coastal Cookie has moved three times. Its current location is near the Independence Drive entrance across from Compass Bank and the bookstore. Maynard said there’s one more move in the works, but it’s just minor. She said the plan is to shift the store several feet forward and bring the front flush with the front of Bourbon Bayou.
Photo by Mike Sharkey