Barbee Cookies celebrates 10-year milestone

(TULSA, Okla.) A worldwide pandemic hasn’t prevented a Tulsa favorite from celebrating a decade in the cookie business. “It was so challenging,” co-owner Kat Graham told VNN. “And there was such uncertainty. And yet, because it is such a worldwide problem, I didn’t feel alone.” Despite a decade on paper, Barbee Cookies have been passed around for closer to thirty years. Graham said her passion for baking and cooking with her grandmothers evolved into a family staple the whole community enjoyed: white chocolate milk chocolate pecan cookies. Kelli Stacy, a friend in her bible study group, convinced her to go pro. Ten years later, here they are. This year’s celebration is a lot different than years’ past. But, Graham said, it means a lot more, too. “I’m just so much more appreciative of my business, my customers and my team,” Graham said. “Even during this pandemic because we’re still here and we’re still open. We have cashflow in the bank. I’m just so grateful.” Barbee Cookies was forced to close for two weeks earlier this year, followed by six weeks of strictly online sales, delivery and curbside pickup from their South Memorial location. They have since reopened their South Memorial location with numerous safety precautions in place, like masks and gloves for their employees, no more than six employees working at a time, no more than three customers in the store at a time, and constant communication regarding how everyone is feeling. “Because I basically just wanted to do the right thing for customers and my team,” Graham said. “So, safety was the priority. What is going to be the right thing to do? People had to come before anything else. That’s just plain and simple.” Their second location in downtown Tulsa remains closed. Graham told us her faith in God has kept her strong and encouraged throughout the pandemic. “I won’t lie, though,” Graham said. “There are times when I wake up in the middle of the night stressed. What am I going to do? And I just have to let that go and believe God is going to help us through.” The Barbee Cookies 10 Year Celebration is happening now through Saturday during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) They’ve brought back their Legendary Original without the pecans and are giving away a free iced sugar baby cookie to everyone who comes by, in addition to a free cookie with every dozen. Celebrators will also have a chance to get their hands on one of their 10-year coffee mugs for free. And children can get in on the fun, too, with Barbee Cookies’ Patriotic Cookie Coloring Contest. Monday is the deadline to enter. Here’s the link for the design template and the details: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2253/2481/files/Cookie_Decorating_Contest_-_Most_Patriotic_Cookie_1.pdf?v=1594833988 Graham said from civil unrest to the pandemic, being able to provide people with cookie happiness nationwide also means something different this year. “What we’re living in right now is not very sweet,” Graham said. “So, when people come in and they’re so excited for the cookies we make or they get a delivery, it’s a bright spot in someone’s day.”