Estero mom of six Amanda Arrington owns the only Florida store for the quickly growing Chip Cookies franchise, playing the role of head baker and, well, just about everything else. She and her team of eight whip up about 500 of Chip’s fresh-baked, oversized treats daily, with six curated flavors, a toppings bar for customizations and a special flavor rotating weekly.
A lover of crafts and baked goods, Amanda had wanted to open a cookie shop for years when she found Chip Cookies on Instagram. The busy mom liked buying into a franchise where much of the infrastructure, built-in support and brand recognition were in place. After ordering a batch of cookies online in 2022, she fell for the perfectly gooey-meets-crisped rounds and promptly flew to the Utah flagship with her husband, Darren. “We got one of everything and went back to the hotel,” she says. “Once the Biscoff Chip cookie hit my mouth, I was sold—Chip was coming to Estero, Florida.”
When she leaves work, Amanda has another half-dozen waiting for her at home—19-year-old Paige; 14-year-old Kara; 12-year-olds Maddie and Preston; 10-year-old Liam; and 6-year-old Jace—plus, a hamster and three chihuahuas. In the shop, a neon sign greets customers at the door with the phrase, ‘Chips Happens,’ a mantra reminding Amanda all will be well when chip hits the fan. “We’re working with cookies,” she says. “There’s not much that goes wrong.”
Photography by Christina Bankson
Amanda opened Estero’s Chip Cookies location last summer. Psst, kids: Ask about the drawer with toys and prizes beneath the display case.
Origins: I was always known as ‘the cookie lady.’ I used to have an at-home bakery, A Little Cookie Shoppe, which won Gulfshore Life’s Best of the Gulf nod two years in a row. I had to shutter to focus on motherhood and managing some health issues. When I came across Chip, I loved everything about them—their backstory, the relatable owners, the paper wrap, the boxes. The little things make all the difference. When we got our first batch, my husband, our kids (we have three from his first marriage, two from mine, and one son together) and I stood around our kitchen island and judged every cookie, rating them on a scale from 1 to 10. The cookies did not disappoint.
Scheduling: I’m at the store seven days a week. On weekdays, I get there at 9:20 a.m. after seeing the kids off to school. Most of my work is done at the shop. When I leave at 2:30 p.m., I’m pretty much done for the day. Sometimes, I go back to the store or hop on my computer at home if we’re really busy, but for the most part, I’m home for the day and get to be a mom. We eat together every night and try not to split up. If one kid has a soccer or volleyball game, we’re usually all there.
Challenges: After-school hours are the hardest. Sometimes the store is packed, and it’s hard to get away. I’m the mom who’s involved in everything, and I’m still learning to juggle. My husband is my number one cheerleader. And, I have a very full planner, where I write every single thing down.
Helping Hands: Most of the kids would rather relax in their free time than pick up a shift (what tween doesn’t?), but they often help in other areas like by babysitting their younger siblings. Paige, our oldest, works part-time in the store. My 12-year-old, Maddie, loves to come in and help make dough and take customers. They’ll say, ‘Oh, is your daughter working today?’ It’s an amazing feeling.
Photography by Christina Bankson
Make it count- in an increasingly cashless world, kids helping in Mom’s shop learn essential skills, like how to count money.
Perks: Obviously, they love getting free cookies, and they like being behind the scenes. When we’re out and see our Chip logo at one of the many events we sponsor or at their school (last year, we started doing a Cookies with the Principal contest for standout students), they’ll look at me like, ‘Mom, that’s us!’ It’s nice to see them recognize all the little things.
Fun Time: I’m a big reader—last year, I read 82 books. I sneak it in at the end of the day when everybody is down for the night. It’s like my little escape. I work out every afternoon while the kids do homework; sometimes, I’ll run while they ride their bikes. In the fall, we’re in a fantasy football league. Every year, we host a Draft Party in our community with an old-school board on the wall. We’re a competitive family by nature (like, fun competitive!), so it’s a great outlet for us.
Family Tradition: We have a jar covered in travel stickers, and it’s filled with papers listing every state. Once a year, everyone picks a paper, and we decide on a place to go out of those eight states. Our goal is to get the kids to as many states as possible. Mommy Moxie: I love all of it—from seeing them be mad to catching them smile. I love sitting back and watching them. Like my son, right now, he’s eating a bowl of cereal at the table. You get to witness all of these little moments in their life—only you—and it’s just so special.
Prioritizing: Our kids watch us and everything we do—the good, the bad and the in-between. I still make my kids my number one priority. The business is business; it will run. You just want to ensure you have good employees there and trust they can handle it. My kids and my husband come first. I will be at every event—even if I’m in my work clothes covered in flour, I will be there.
Photography by Christina Bankson
Her blended family gets in on the cookie fun, helping roll dough balls and taking customers.