WRITTEN BY JORDAN KOSSUTH
MarcQus Wright has been baking Daddy’s Dough cookies in Grand Rapids since 2015, but their story started much earlier. MarcQus’ family has always had a good time in the kitchen. He can recall watching his dad cook, and spending time baking sweet potato pies, cakes, and other treats with his grandmother, Betty Jean. When he was 10 years old, he can remember baking a cake with her, and his eagerness to take it out of the oven. She kept telling him to have some patience – “it’s not ready,” she would say. When he opened the oven despite her objections, he watched with dismay as it sunk down into the pan. Betty Jean taught him that time is a key ingredient in baking, and her wisdom is present with him in the kitchen even today.
MarcQus continued to nurture his baking knowledge while working in a coffeeshop as a teenager, where he loved seeing the joy freshly baked goods brought to customers. In 1998, MarcQus met his wife, Tawanna, at Illinois State University. The two moved to Michigan – Tawanna to attend Thomas Cooley Law School, and MarcQus started a job in Grand Rapids with Grand Valley State University.
When the Wrights started their own family, MarcQus was inspired to get back into baking as a hobby to pass the time. MarcQus & Tawana have two children – Mariah, age 12, and Malcolm, age 9. In fact, it was a 5-year-old Mariah who suggested they start a business to get their cookies out into the world! While still working full time for GVSU, he began baking cookies for coworkers, friends, and family, and tweaking his recipes to create the high-quality cookies they sell today.
In 2015, Daddy’s Dough was officially born. The name and logo, created by MarcQus’ brother, was chosen to convey that MarcQus leads the charge with baking, but the real brains behind the start of the business is their kids.
A KNEAD TO EXPAND
The Wrights began selling cookies at local farmers markets while both balancing full-time jobs, but as word of their tasty treats spread, and they took on more catering gigs and planned out visits to markets, they quickly outgrew their current space. While baking 600 cookies in their home kitchen for one wedding, they realized something needed to be done.
After hearing about the upcoming opening of a market-format store in downtown Grand Rapids, MarcQus met with Ken Bair, the manager of Bridge Street Market, who was on the hunt for local businesses prior to the store’s opening. As most important partnerships do, the decision to feature Daddy’s Dough as a vendor took place over a cookie tasting.
From there, things started moving fast and it was time to find a commercial space. MarcQus resigned from his position at Grand Valley State University to focus more time and effort into their growing business, got licensed, and moved the baking operation from their home to the Downtown Market’s Incubator Kitchen.
JUST ADD MILK!
They have been stocking Bridge Street Market regularly since the stores opening in 2018, with their classic varieties like Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, and a gluten free Oatmeal Cranberry. As they bake up to 10 varieties in small batches at any given time, some cookies are only available seasonally, so be sure to keep an eye out for these limited-time favorites:
🥨 The Sanford – This cookie’s name is a nod to Fred Sanford from the NBC sitcom Sanford & Son, who ran a junk and antique dealership out of his home with his son. Usually released around March, they like to joke that this “spring cleaning junk cookie” has a little bit of everything – with chocolate, toffee, pretzel, and caramel.
🍋 Summer Breeze – A light, refreshing lemon and coconut cookie sold in late spring through the summer months – this is MarcQus’ favorite!
🍎 Apple Cider Cream Pie – Apple cider butter cream sandwiched between two cinnamon apple cookies
🎂 Birthday Cake Cream Pie – Two party cookies with sprinkles sandwiched around your choice of cream flavor – vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and lemon! This started as a seasonal flavor, but customers begged them to keep it on the menu year-round and – luckily for us – they were happy to oblige!
THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT
One thing they have learned in their years of baking, is that when a customer suggests a new cookie flavor – they are usually spot on. In fact, one of their best-sellers, Beauty, was a customer suggestion. The Beauty cookie is made with their classic dough, chocolate, toffee, and pecans. Of course, this led to the creation of one of their other favorites, The Beast - made with chocolate, butterscotch, walnuts, and coconut.
Another customer suggested a “more peanut buttery” Peanut Butter Chocolate cookie – to which MarcQus replied, “Challenge accepted!” They are constantly trying out new flavor combinations and looking to their loyal customers for ideas.
SOCIAL MEDIA MAVERICK
While previous years saw a bustling catering business, they have seen a definite shift to online shopping. MarcQus runs the Daddy’s Dough Cookies Facebook page and Instagram, and they are a must follow if you want to keep in the loop on their latest flavor announcements or learn more about what they are doing within our West Michigan community. Their social media drives their online sales with engaging posts and creative memes that give viewers a feeling of happiness, joy, and family. In fact, recently they shared that a family friend placed an order of 100 cookies for some United States troops during their deployment.
Their online store has been a powerhouse throughout the last year, with the family in the kitchen scooping dough, baking, and bagging cookies almost every day. Online orders can be placed for your corporate events, family get togethers, or just to have some delicious cookies on hand - or would it be in hand?
Hoodies, t-shirts, and cookie scented candles are among the other items available on their website – because who doesn’t want their house to smell like sugar cookies?! Comic book lovers can also purchase a copy of The Adventures of Cookie Man - an origin story written and illustrated by their son, Malcolm Wright.
A look in the kitchen at Daddy’s Dough. Photo from Facebook.
Birthday Cake Creme Pies in the making. Photo from Facebook.
SUPPORT LOCAL & BE INTENTIONAL
Time has been good to Daddy’s Dough and the Wright family, and they have learned a lot over the years. They continue to use high quality ingredients and bake in small batches out of a commercial kitchen in Grand Rapids. After spending all day baking cookies, MarcQus emphasizes that meal prep is real. When they do order take out, they are sure to support other small businesses, and encourage their customers to follow this example. Consumers wanting to support local businesses, Black businesses, and small businesses need to be intentional with their choices, as targeting businesses that have historically been marginalized is beneficial for everyone.
The Facebook page for Daddy’s Dough is often updated when they restock at local stores, so be sure to follow them, and check out their selection of cookies made with love in Bridge Street Market’s bakery section.