Theresa Rubio grew up in her family’s bakery, Grandma’s Cookies, which helps explain why the St. Charles shop still feels like a gathering place. Started by Rubio’s grandmother in 1976, the Main Street business earned national attention in 2024 when USA Today readers named it the Best Cookie Shop in America. Rubio says one of the most rewarding parts of the job is building relationships with customers—many of whom, she says, feel more like relatives than regulars.
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Organization: Grandma’s Cookies
Title: Owner
Age: 51
Hometown: St. Charles, Missouri
Interests / Hobbies: Spending every free moment I have with family
What motivated you to get involved in this work/community/activity? Grandma started the cookie shop in 1976. I started working for her when I was 10. I got involved because I love to bake and help others. The way that the cookie shop has brought people together over the years has been a blessing to witness.
What values or principles guide how you show up in this role/community? I am guided by the quality of cookies we make and the love we give to our customers everyday. I want every cookie to be made with care and every customer to feel welcomed.
What’s the most enjoyable aspect? What I love most about the cookie shop, is getting to know the customers. Many have become more like family.
Can you briefly share a few standout memories? A important memory is when we won the Best Cookie Shop In America for the second year in a row (2024 and 2025). Another memory is when customers tell me how the cookie shop has become part of their family traditions. Moments like that remind me this is about more than just baking.
Can you share an insight about this role that most people don’t know? I feel like a lot of people think that running a cookies shop is easy. Running a cookie shop takes a lot of time away from my family and takes managing many aspects. It can be very stressful at times. While all the time that I have dedicated to the cookie shop, the tears, the missing out of family events, it’s all been the most rewarding thing that I have ever done in my life.
What’s one key piece of advice you’ve embraced? Take care of your customers and they will take care of you.
What’s the greatest challenge? The greatest challenge is maintaining making great cookies while juggling the rest of the shop on really busy days.
Where do you find inspiration? My inspiration comes from grandma, my aunt and my beautiful mother. They all were great bakers and AMAZING women. Their traditions and memories that they left me are what I try to model myself to be everyday.
What are your future plans or ambitions? The future is about growth, consistency and continuing to make the best cookies that we can make for everyone to enjoy!
