A Great Ocala Tradition
For many Ocalans, it’s hard to remember a time before our local Paddock Mall came into existence, and for as long as it’s been around, one staple has always been the store you can smell from Sear’s to Macy’s that sells the best cookie cakes in town: Great American Cookies.
Offering patrons double doozies, sugar cookies, brownies and elaborately decorated chocolate chip cookie cakes, no trip to the mall is complete without stopping by this long-beloved store for a mid-shopping treat.
Sure, there was a time when kids had to settle for plain ol’ chocolate chip-less birthday cakes, but those bleak days are long gone. As ice cream shops, gourmet dog treat bakeries, toy stores and even calendar stores came and went, Great American Cookies hasn’t budged for over 30 years.
“We are the home of the original cookie cake, and we’ve been serving Ocala since the mall opened with great products, service, quality and freshness,” says Franchisee John A. Lombardi.
Starting at a mall in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1977, Great American Cookies has grown to be a franchise present in over 300 locations across the country, says John.
With home-style cookies and treats freshly baked each day, it’s hard to resist the sumptuous scent, not to mention the great deals available all year long. Currently, you can buy any three of the same kind of treat and get the fourth one free.
“Our No. 1 seller is the chocolate chip cookie, followed by sugar cookies and the red velvet brownies are our most popular brownie,” says John.
Great American Cookies is perfect for a sweet tooth or a celebration, but it’s also concerned with giving back to the community. This year marks the store’s third year donating to the Annual 5K Run for Autism September 15 at Silver Springs. As a U.S. Navy veteran, John is also passionate about supporting our troops, and the store often works with Operation USO Care Package for deployed military personnel and donates a portion of online patriotic cake proceeds to the Yellow Ribbon Fund.
Great American Cookies is also teaming up with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for Light The Night, an evening walk raising money for those who struggle with or have passed from cancer.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect sweet main attraction for your next soirée or simply need to satisfy a craving while traipsing around the mall, Great American Cookies has got you covered.
Great American Cookies
3100 SW College Rd #154, Ocala
(352) 237-2557
facebook.com/greatamericancookies
