Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Great American Cookie Crumbles at Lenox Square

Cookie store closes

Great American Cookies has closed at Lenox Square. The first floor kiosk below the stairs just outside Macy's was a landmark for many years.  The store reportedly closed yesterday and by today, its former home was completely bare. 

According to a representative from Simon Guest Services, there are no immediate plans for the space despite the quick removal and cleaning of their former space.     

Great American Cookie Co. (later renamed Great American Cookies) was started by Michael J. Coles at Perimeter Mall in 1977.  Today Norcross-based Global Franchise Group (Marble Slab Creamery, Maggie Moo's, PretzelMaker) owns the concept which now includes a few hundred locations.  

National cupcake boutique Sprinkles opened earlier this year at the front of Lenox Square and in addition to cupcakes, sells cookies and ice cream.  The addition of cookies to their menu seemed to hint that Great American's days might be numbered. 

Cloud 9 Cupcakes previously closed in the Lenox Square Fashion Cafe ahead of the Sprinkles opening.  Surprisingly though, LockHeart "Chicago Style Popcorn" is again open via a mall kiosk despite the recent of opening of Garrett Popcorn Shop.   

Great American Cookies still has plenty of locations in metro Atlanta including Northlake Mall, North Point Mall and Cumberland Mall.  

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Noooooooooo!!!!!

SB said...

Picked up orders there multiple times....and enjoyed the envious stares of dozens of people as I walked back to my car. Surprising.....

Anonymous said...

It's no surprise. They would have had to charge $20 a cookie to stay and pay the lease increase. That's Lenox!

Anonymous said...

Doesn't surprise me. This past summer, I went there 30 min prior to closing and although there was stock being loaded up (for the trash?) we were told they closed the register down early. Took a picture of the time and situation, got the manager's name, and reported it to corporate. I didn't get a response. Those times we were served, the service was always grumpy and terrible.

ImAndy said...

This is surprising. I shop at this Macy's at least 3 or 4 times a month and this cookie stand is always busy with at least 3 or 4 employees on a weekend. I do understand that I guess it takes a lot of $2 cookies to turn a profit.

Believe it or not there is still one open at Gwinnett Place mall. I just stopped yesterday for a snickerdoodle while waiting for some things to get engraved at Things Remembered.

AJ said...

I always thought it was a health hazard. Dirt from people's shoes falling from the staircase above!

Anonymous said...

Heard that Simon didn't renew their lease. After so many wonderful and successful years at Lenox. What a shame!

Anonymous said...

Shame on you, Simon, for letting them go. Always got great cookies and Cookie Cakes. How Lenox is changing!

J&J Brookhaven said...

I know the owners personally and know that the only reason they are not still there is because they couldn't come to terms with Simon on a lease. It had nothing to do with Sprinkles or any other store in the mall.

Anonymous said...

Yes, AJ, I thought the same thing too! I never would stop there because I thought it was gross with the weird under-the-stairs location.

Manny38 said...

I agree A.J. that place was gross. Did you ever see the floor? If the health department inspected it like they do restaurants, I'm sure they would have been fined. Working in that mall, we knew never to buy cookies there.

Anonymous said...

Northlake Mall?Are you kidding? I would not go over there even with COMBAT PAY.Northlake Mall and pretty much DeKalb County in general is toast and anyone with an IQ of 2 or greater knows it!!!!

Manny38 said...

Where was Northlake Mall get mentioned?

Anonymous said...

Northlake Mall is mentioned in the last sentence of the article.Itis mentioned as a alternative location along w/ North Point and Cumberland.

Anonymous said...

Haha, here I was thinking I was the only one who noticed the stairs thing

Anonymous said...

Having worked at the Gap for many years...will miss my brownie and coke!

Rose Gorham said...

I spoke to the owners there. Lenox didn't renew their lease. The guy and his wife seemed upset. Shame for people to lose their jobs!

Anonymous said...

It a cookie cart. You're worried about employees, you obviously don't know about the department stores that are closing loosing 100's of employees. Next on the chopping block is Nordstrom and Bloomingdales, they have already announced closing mall of Georgia and have already closed Perimeter Mall.
if the cookie can't pay the rent, then they have to go. That's basic.

Chris Dull said...

“Great American Cookies and Global Franchise Group have a wonderful partnership with Simon Properties and Lenox Square Mall. I’m happy to announce that our relationship is continuing as we are busy finalizing the details for a new Great American Cookies at Lenox Square Mall. The previous franchisees, who currently operate eight locations in four malls throughout the South East and are also opening a new store in Polar, are valued members of the Great American Cookies family. We look forward to continuing to provide Lenox Square Mall shoppers with our delicious and fresh cookies and Cookie Cakes. We hope to open the new location this spring and will keep the public informed of our plans. A special thank you to our loyal Great American Cookies fans for their love and support of our brand.” – Chris Dull, President and CEO of Global Franchise Group, the brand management company and franchisor behind Great American Cookies®, Pretzelmaker®, Marble Slab Creamery®, MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream & Treatery® and Hot Dog on a StickTM


Anonymous said...

The closest location is Perimeter Mall, just a few minutes up GA-400. Been getting cookie cakes there for many years and they are always awesome!

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