Chris Knight, a young entrepreneur from Richmond, Virginia, in the United States, is carving out a name for himself in food service with his rapidly expanding business, Cookie Chris. The Black-owned chain, which specializes in cookies, milkshakes, and ice cream, has seen remarkable growth since its inception. It has two thriving locations, one in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the other in Richmond.
Knight’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2021 while he was still a junior at Warhill High School in Williamsburg. What started as a personal hobby of baking cookies quickly turned into a full-fledged business after word spread about his delicious recipe.
At just 16 years old, Knight, and his parents opened the first Cookie Chris store in Williamsburg. Since then, the store has seen tremendous success, with daily cookie production reaching about 1,000 cookies per day.
“I love it when people come here, buy my cookies, and smile,” Knight said in an interview with the Daily Press. “That’s really how it all began. It is important that people enjoy my cookies.” His dedication to creating a product people love has proven successful, and the Williamsburg store continues to build a loyal customer base.
As the business gained traction, Knight felt the need to expand. Richmond, with its vibrant community and personal ties to his family, was the perfect next step. “Richmond felt like home,” Knight explained, mentioning his grandmother’s encouragement and his family’s deep roots in the area.
The second Cookie Chris location is already generating excitement, offering a variety of flavours like Oreo, chocolate chip, and Snicker doodle, as well as newer options like strawberry shortcake and the shop’s signature “Cookie Chris” special.
Chris Knight Jr. speaks about his business Cookie Chris / © Richmond Times-Dispatch
The journey to expansion has been anything but easy, especially for a full-time student. Knight is pursuing a degree in philosophy and psychology at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he maintains a 4.0 GPA. Balancing business and academics is no small feat, but Knight is committed to making it work.
Over the summer, he worked 6 to 8 hours a day preparing dough to keep his stores stocked while he was away at school. His dedication to maintaining consistency and quality at both locations has not gone unnoticed, and customers continue to praise the business for its excellent service and mouthwatering treats.
In addition to cookies, both Cookie Chris locations serve a wide range of milkshakes and ice creams, making it a family-friendly destination for anyone with a sweet tooth. Knight’s innovative menu, combined with his focus on customer satisfaction, has helped his stores stand out in a competitive market.
Despite his growing success, the 20-year-old remains humble and driven by the joy of making people happy with his cookies. His work ethic and perseverance are inspiring, and his story goes to prove that age is no barrier to success.
With the success of his first two stores, Knight is setting his sights on even bigger goals for the future, all while continuing to excel academically and showing the world that youth and ambition can go hand in hand.
Written by Kweku Sampson
This article is published by either a staff writer, an intern, or an editor of TheAfricanDream.net, based on editorial discretion.
