You gotta bake while the oven is hot, as they say, and the red-hot Caroline’s Cookies is poised to open its second location, just two years removed from being a pandemic pop-up in Lafayette.
The new location is coming to Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge and it marks a meteoric rise for the cookie company started by Caroline Merryman. The Lafayette native began selling cookies over Instagram, farmers’ markets and pop-up events but still struggled to meet demand. Caroline’s Cookies got a Lafayette location in August 2021, but the store still regularly sold out of stock. Merryman was forced to quickly scale up and after large investments in equipment and labor, the company is now able to make 2,500 cookies per day; a five-fold increase from the store’s initial production level.
Merryman told The Advocate that she was considering Houston for a second location but a visit to Baton Rouge convinced her that going to the city is the next move. The new location will combine two units in Perkins Rowe, allowing for around 1,500 square feet of space. According to recent announcements on Facebook, demolition at the upcoming Baton Rouge location is complete and the plan is to open by the end of 2023.
All it takes is a quick scan of the current flavors on the Caroline’s Cookies website to see why the cookie company is so popular. Flavors run from classic treats to madcap experiments inspired by the corner store snack aisle. For example, the classic Oatmeal Cream Pie is made from creamy frosting sandwiched between two oatmeal cookies, while the Everything Brownie is a brownie cookie topped with potato chips, mini M&M’s, pretzels and mini marshmallows. According to the website, some flagship flavors stick around while special monthly flavors change from month to month. Those looking to celebrate a birthday or other event can order cookie cakes.
The cookie company is constantly soliciting feedback and looking for unique opportunities, such as collaborations with other local businesses and themed events.
