Meet Mariah Mateo | Chief Cookie Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariah Mateo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariah, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind the success of Good Ol’ Cookies is simplicity. From day one, I wanted to keep the heart of a cookie, the kind that feels familiar, and comforting. We’re not about over the top, picture perfect desserts, we’re about bringing people back to that feeling of grabbing a warm cookie that tastes just like something your grandma would make.

Our focus isn’t to turn people vegan, it’s to show that vegan desserts can be just as delicious, nostalgic, and satisfying as the cookies you grew up with. By keeping things simple and honest, we’ve created a brand that truly connects with everyone.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you’re never going to please everyone and that’s okay. The moment you start trying to, you begin to lose the essence of your brand and what makes it special. Staying true to yourself and your vision is everything. It’s great to take feedback and listen, but if you can’t implement it in a way that feels authentic, it’s okay to set it aside and keep moving forward. When you stay genuine to who you are and what you stand for, the passion stays alive and so does the purpose behind your business.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We’d kick things off with a little art and inspiration I’m a big museum lover, so Superblue Miami would definitely be one of our first stops. The immersive exhibits there are unreal and such a fun way to experience art up close. Then we’d swing by the Paradox Museum, because who doesn’t love a little mind-bending fun and great photo ops?

For lunch, we’d head over to Nick’s Pizza they have some of the best vegan pizza in town (and I say that with full confidence!). I’d definitely make sure we squeeze in some outdoor adventure, so Jungle Island would be on the list not just for their animals and scenery, but because they have an awesome water park and Tree Trek, which is such a blast.

Midweek, I’d take things a little slower with a stop at Vegan Delights in Miramar their classic club sandwich is one of my all-time favorites and from there, we’d drive out to Hallandale Beach to relax, enjoy the ocean breeze, and maybe catch the sunset.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Good Ol’ Cookies wouldn’t exist without my kids they are the reason this all started. I just wanted them to have a cookie that was made with simple, real ingredients, no artificial dyes, no high fructose corn syrup some organic ingredients and good flavor. Something they could enjoy without ever feeling left out.

They’ve been my best taste testers from day one, they are honest (sometimes too honest) and always the first to tell me if a cookie is missing something. Without them, there’d be no Good Ol’ Cookies. Every batch, every box, every new flavor it all comes back to them. They inspire me daily to keep growing, to keep baking, and to build something that’s bigger than cookies.

Website: https://www.goodolcookies.com

Instagram: @goodolcookies