The smell of freshly baked cookies will soon fill the air at 180 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE as THICK Cookie Co. prepares to open its doors Saturday, March 15.

• Owners Matthew Minnix and Morgan Page have transformed the former Artesano Boutique into a modern bakery after almost a year of extensive renovations.

The journey to opening day has been anything but simple for the couple, who met while playing collegiate sports in Arkansas five years ago.

For Page, a Texas native from the small town of Giddings, baking has been a lifelong passion that started in her grandmother’s kitchen.

• “Growing up I always used to bake with my grandma,” Page said. “We always used to bake sweets together. I think that’s probably where my love for baking started.”

That childhood hobby followed her to college, where she began baking for friends.

“I played college football, and she played college softball,” Minnix explained. “Morgan started baking cookies for the football team and our friends, and she got a lot of compliments.”

What began as sharing homemade treats with teammates evolved when a friend suggested they start selling the cookies. Minnix came up with the name THICK Cookie Co. as a playful nod to Page’s interest in bodybuilding.

“We made our own little logo and started doing small markets in Russellville, Arkansas,” Minnix said. “People really responded well on Facebook.”

As their popularity grew, the couple expanded to nationwide shipping and local pickup operations from their apartment. The demand became overwhelming, with customers lining up 20 cars deep in their parking lot.

After Page graduated with a degree in exercise science and struggled to find a job in her field, she began focusing on the cookie business full-time. Minnix, originally a pre-med student, eventually joined her.

• “Morgan had the crazy suggestion to look at Florida,” said Minnix, who initially resisted the idea despite growing up vacationing in Destin. “We checked South Florida first and it wasn’t a good fit.”

The couple then looked further north along the Gulf Coast. “She was looking around the Destin area and pointed to Fort Walton Beach,” Minnix recalled.

When they saw the former Artesano building was available, they decided to visit. Within 15 minutes of arriving, Minnix said they were surrounded by local business owners and residents welcoming them to the community.

• “Everyone was super welcoming,” he said. “We just fell in love with it here.”

Despite seeing “a huge puddle of water on the floor” during their first visit, they signed the lease last June and began the renovation process.

The transformation was extensive. They removed the recessed entrance, installed double doors, widened the interior by removing sheet rock walls, replaced the ceiling, upgraded electrical systems, installed a sneeze guard for the service counter, and completely redid the bathroom.

While preparing for their grand opening, the couple has maintained their online shipping business and participated in local markets to build brand awareness.

Their business model revolves around customer engagement, with monthly votes on social media determining new cookie flavors.

• “Our kind of thing is we do monthly votes online,” Minnix explained. “We have all of our customers vote on the cookie of the month.”

Options have included creative flavors like strawberry Pop-Tart, cinnamon roll, caramel pretzel, and Butterfinger Reese’s combinations.

The store will offer two main cookie categories: classic cookies weighing four ounces ($4 each) and giant cookies starting at seven ounces ($6.75 each). They also plan to add ice cream and drinks to their menu.

Page is particularly excited about having a storefront where customers can enjoy cookies fresh from the oven.

• “The cookies are still fresh when people get them through online orders, but it’s not the same as getting them fresh out of the oven,” she said. “I’m such a sucker for warm cookies.”

The timing of their grand opening coincides with the start of spring break for Okaloosa County. While this wasn’t their original plan, they’re embracing the challenge.

“We wanted to open beforehand to get all the kinks out,” Page admitted. “But I’m super excited to see how it goes.”

The couple has designed the shop with social media sharing in mind, including eye-catching signage, disco balls, and a stylized bathroom.

• “It’s not just about the cookies,” Minnix said. “It’s an experience.”

The grand opening will take place at 11 a.m. on March 15, complete with a balloon arch. The first 15 people in line will receive a free classic cookie with their purchase.

Tentative hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, though times may vary based on inventory.

Looking ahead, the couple plans to eventually offer delivery through DoorDash and potentially build a team to help with operations.

For now, they’re focused on becoming Fort Walton Beach’s newest sweet spot.

“I’m really excited to share that fresh-out-of-the-oven experience with everyone…Finally,” said Page.

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