Not every great business starts with a business plan. Sometimes it starts with a pink slip, a prayer, and a car full of free cookie samples. That’s the story of Cherry Grove Cookie Co., a veteran-owned cottage bakery that launched out of necessity in early 2026 and has already become one of the most talked-about sweet spots on the North Strand. For anyone who has ever been forced to start over — or who has simply dreamed of turning a passion into a paycheck — the story of Jon and Cherry Grove Cookie Co. is worth knowing.
A Layoff, a Decision, and a February Morning
On January 13, 2026, the founder of Cherry Grove Cookie Co., Jon, received news that his job was being eliminated [Cherry Grove Cookie Co., 2026]. It was just two weeks past Christmas. He had moved to a new town only six months earlier, and the prospect of re-entering the corporate job market felt, in his own words, like something he’d rather not do.
So on February 1st, he made a different call entirely. Instead of updating a resume, he loaded up his car with cookie samples and spent the day driving around North Myrtle Beach — dropping off free cookies at shops, restaurants, cafes, and anywhere else that might give a new baker a shot [Cherry Grove Cookie Co., 2026]. It was a grassroots hustle built on a simple bet: that the product was good enough to sell itself.
Why Cherry Grove Cookie Co. Stands Out
It was. Within weeks, Cherry Grove Cookie Co. cookies were showing up each morning at a local coffee shop and a beachside cafe [Cherry Grove Cookie Co., 2026]. Orders were going out across the Grand Strand. Packages were being shipped around the country. And word was spreading fast.
Baked to Order, Built from Scratch
What sets Cherry Grove Cookie Co. apart from a grocery store bakery or a chain dessert shop isn’t just the ingredients — it’s the philosophy. Every cookie is original, hand-crafted, and baked to order, meaning nothing sits in a display case going stale [WFXB, 2026]. The company operates as a cottage bakery out of the Cherry Grove Beach section of North Myrtle Beach, which gives it the kind of neighborhood authenticity that tourists seek out and locals take pride in.
The menu reflects real creativity. Alongside a classic chocolate chip, the lineup includes standouts like the Brown Butter Rum Coffee Toffee Crunch, the Chocolate PB Pow-Pow, and — perhaps most memorably — the Bacon Me Crazy [Cherry Grove Cookie Co. website, 2026]. These are not generic flavors designed by committee. They are the kind of combinations that come from someone who genuinely loves to bake and isn’t afraid to experiment.
The company offers free local delivery within five miles of Cherry Grove Beach, with free delivery extended to ten miles on orders of $45 or more, and free shipping on orders over $50 [Cherry Grove Cookie Co., 2026]. A cookie trailer is also in the works, which would allow the business to go fully mobile and serve events, markets, and festivals across the region.
Farmers Markets and a Community That Showed Up
One of the clearest signs that Cherry Grove Cookie Co. had struck a nerve came early. During just the second week at the North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market, Jon and his daughter sold out of 150 cookies in 90 minutes — with customers still lined up wanting more [Cherry Grove Cookie Co., 2026]. That kind of response isn’t manufactured through marketing. It’s earned through product, personality, and the particular magic of a community that chooses to support one of its own.
The farmers market circuit has become a cornerstone of the business, and for good reason. Markets like those listed through WaccamawMarkets.org give small cottage bakeries a direct path to customers without the overhead of a storefront [WFXB, 2026]. For a business operating lean and building its customer base one conversation at a time, that access is invaluable. It also gives Horry County residents a chance to meet the person behind the cookies — which, in the case of Cherry Grove Cookie Co., turns out to be half the appeal.
The business has also expanded into wholesale and catering, offering custom and bulk options for events, retailers, and hospitality businesses [Cherry Grove Cookie Co. website, 2026]. For an area that hosts millions of visitors annually, that kind of local vendor relationship can be a meaningful revenue stream — and it keeps tourist dollars circulating within the community rather than flowing to out-of-town chains.
Veteran Owned, Faith Driven, Community Minded
Cherry Grove Cookie Co. carries two identities that matter in this community: it is veteran-owned and faith-driven [Cherry Grove Cookie Co., 2026]. The company’s website closes with a verse from Isaiah 6:8 — “Here I am. Send me!” — and the backstory Jon shared reads less like a business case study and more like a personal testimony about what happens when you stop waiting for the right moment and start moving.
That resonates in a place like the Grand Strand, where a significant portion of residents have military backgrounds, where faith communities are woven into daily life, and where the small business ecosystem is constantly being squeezed by rising rents, seasonal swings, and competition from national brands. Cherry Grove Cookie Co. isn’t a venture-backed startup with a slick brand strategy. It’s a veteran with a great recipe, a willingness to hustle, and a daughter who helped sell out 150 cookies before lunch.
The business has already received regional media attention, including a feature on the Greg Rowles Show and a segment on WFXB, the local Fox affiliate [Cherry Grove Cookie Co., 2026; WFXB, 2026]. For a bakery that is barely months old, that kind of visibility speaks to the genuine enthusiasm the Grand Strand community has shown for what Jon is building.
Conclusion: A Cookie Worth Finding
Cherry Grove Cookie Co. is still young, still growing, and — by the founder’s own admission — not yet replacing his full former salary [Cherry Grove Cookie Co., 2026]. But the trajectory is clear. The cookies sell out. The orders are shipping nationally. The trailer is coming. And somewhere in Cherry Grove Beach, a veteran who refused to let a January layoff write his story is baking something worth driving across town for.
For Horry County residents who want to support a local, veteran-owned business built by someone who bet on himself and on this community: you can order online, catch them at the North Myrtle Beach Farmers Market, or find their cookies at local retail locations. The line might be long. Show up anyway.
Further Reading & Links
- Cherry Grove Cookie Co. — Official Website & Online Shop https://cherrygrovecookieco.com/
- Cherry Grove Cookie Co. — The Backstory (in Jon’s own words) https://cherrygrovecookieco.com/pages/backstory
- Cherry Grove Cookie Co. — Retail Locations https://cherrygrovecookieco.com/pages/find-our-cookies
- Cherry Grove Cookie Co. — Book for Events & Catering https://cherrygrovecookieco.com/pages/contact
- WFXB Fox — “Get to Know Cherry Grove Cookie Co.” (April 2026) https://www.wfxb.com/2026/04/06/get-to-know-cherry-grove-cookie-co-a-local-farmers-market-vendor/
- Cherry Grove Cookie Co. on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584505886322
- Cherry Grove Cookie Co. on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cherrygrovecookieco/
- Waccamaw Markets — Local Farmers Market Dates & Times https://waccamawmarkets.org/
