Retirement is supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy life at a less stressful pace. Most people don’t start a food service business in retirement, but that’s precisely what John Lundgren did. He opened the Classic Cookie Co. in June 1984 with his retirement savings, war bonds from his father, and a whole lot of hope.
Classic Cookie Co. has been a family-run staple in the skyway of what is now the CenturyLink Building in Minneapolis for 40 years. All of the recipes are baked fresh from old tried-and-true family recipes, with a few of the Lundgren family’s new concoctions thrown in.
Back when the cookie counter first opened, word of the Double Dutch Pizza Cookie was the most talked about dessert in the skyway. A 12-inch brownie crust was topped with candy, marshmallows, and coconut as the toppings. It sold for $6.50. After a while, customers could buy a slice of the cookie pizza for $0.85.
Customers continue to be lured from their offices with the smell of freshly baked treats and friendly conversation Monday through Thursday. And it’s not just cookies, folks; for years, the counter served up bars, muffins, and more special goodies.
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Recipes from Classic Cookie Co.
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