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By Grace Braswell

For Tami Weissert of Crave Cookies, baking is more than just sugar, butter and flour. Her gourmet cookies are a way to bring people together, make customers smile, and add a little sweetness into the lives of every person that walks into her store.

Weissert first came up with the idea of starting a cookie company six years ago after several of her friends and family told her repeatedly how tasty her cookies were. She prayed on the idea for years, and after moving to LaGrange with her husband, she decided that this was the perfect time and place to begin making her dream a reality.

“People kept telling me that I could sell my cookies,” Weissert said. “I never really gave it much thought until a few years ago. I kept praying on the idea and starting this business just seemed like the right thing to do.”

While cookies are at the forefront of Crave Cookie Company, the people that Weissert interacts with through her business play a huge role in her love of baking. She said the satisfaction of people eating her cookies is enough for her to continue to bake every day.

When planning for her business, she wanted an environment that was safe and warm for her customers.

“I want to sell cookies, but honestly, it’s about the people,” Weissert said. “When people walk into my store, I want them to feel welcome and encouraged. More than anything, I want them to feel valued. A lot of times we don’t get that in our society.”

Located downtown, Weissert feels as if LaGrange is the perfect location for her business. She loves this location and the feel of a smaller, homey city. After years of planning and pondering the idea of opening a cookie shop, Weissert decided to act upon her thoughts after driving through LaGrange for the first time with her husband.

“I originally got this vision in Charlotte, North Carolina,” Weissert stated. “No way would it have never, ever gone over there. Here in LaGrange is the perfect place for it.”

As for the holidays, Crave Cookie Company is selling cookies that make perfect gifts for anyone with a sweet tooth. These gourmet, made-from-scratch cookies will be sold mix and match to anyone who desires them. According to Weissert, it is best to call ahead if there is a large cookie order to be placed, as her cookies are being made by hand, and it might take a while considering the high demand.

“We are going through a lot of cookies because of walk-in orders,” Said Weissert. “If you call ahead, you’re more likely to get the kind of cookies you need for the holidays.”

Crave Cookie Company’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Christmas Eve, the hours will be reduced to 10 a.m. to at 3 p.m. Crave will be closed the Saturday after Christmas, as well as Jan. 1 through Jan. 11.

After the holidays, Weissert and Crave Cookie Company have big plans for Valentine’s Day.