Crave Cookies
by Jill Duff-Hoppes
Cristie Vincent, owner of Crave Cookies of Oviedo, with daughter Abby and store manager Chandler Bates
Life is sweet for Cristie Vincent, and not just because she owns Crave Cookies of Oviedo. It’s also because her gourmet cookie store is truly a family business.
Cristie’s entrepreneurial spirit can be traced to her parents, who for years owned a business specializing in window treatments and blinds. Cristie began working there during college and continued after she had children of her own, until her parents sold the business.
“I loved working there; the people who worked for my parents became family, too,” says Cristie. “That’s why I eventually wanted my own business, where I could have my family join in with me.”
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Cristie and her family moved to Florida when she was 12. She and husband Keith are both graduates of Lake Mary High School and the University of Central Florida.
With her kids now in their 20s, Cristie decided the time was right to pursue her
dream of becoming a business owner. A Longwood resident, Cristie discovered Crave Cookies while researching franchising opportunities. The company opened in Utah in 2019, and locations have since popped up across the country. Cristie’s store, which opened in March, is currently the only Crave location in Central Florida.
Cristie has welcomed several family members to her team including daughter Abby, a UCF graduate; son Jared, a UCF student; and a niece who is a high-school sophomore. Cristie’s other employees have become like family, too. Together, they work to provide the community with an array of scrumptious treats.
“Everything is made fresh from scratch every single day,” says Cristie. “They’re a New York-style cookie – ooey gooey in the center and crispy on the edges.”
The menu changes each Friday, but the top-selling milk chocolate chip cookie is always available. In addition to its delectable cookie lineup, Crave Cookies offers loaded sodas, which are soft drinks flavored with fresh purees, smooth creams, and flavored syrups.
Cristie’s store also caters, with a menu that includes delicious crave-lits (smaller versions of the regular-size cookies) and custom-made cookie cakes that are perfect for events such as birthdays, weddings, and corporate meetings.
“Oviedo is an amazing community to be a part of – very supportive and so kind and welcoming,” says Cristie. “It brings joy to my heart when I hear people say that they love the cookies.”