New Business Update: Milk and cookies on offer for downtown dwellers
Corey Rimmel turned 21 a few weeks ago.
But instead of visiting a local watering hole with his buddies for a celebratory first legal drink, Corey enjoyed milk and cookies at his newly opened business, Hot Box Cookies, in downtown Columbia.
Rimmel and co-owners Adam Hendin and David Melnick have barely had a moment to celebrate anything recently. Hot Box Cookies has kept them and their 26 employees hopping from the moment the first batch of homemade, customized cookies came out of the oven.
Rimmel, Hendin and Melnick are juniors at the University of Missouri. While Rimmel and Melnick major in accounting, Hendin is considering atmospheric science.
The friends grew up in St. Louis. Several months ago, Rimmel visited the University of Indiana and saw a cookie bakery and delivery business near campus. He thought the concept was novel and in conversation with his friends a few days later, mentioned the idea.
Every cookie baked at Hot Box Cookies is custom-made, using homemade dough in four flavors. Customers add ingredients to their cookies and order in increments of six, which can be delivered or picked up at the store.
Hot Box Cookies opens on weekdays at 4 p.m., and noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Hot Box Cookies is located downtown at 808 E. Broadway.