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

Hi Maya, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
A quote I live by is “Put your big girl pants on and get it done.” As simple as it seems, being a business owner is all about doing whatever it takes to see your company succeed. Whether it means putting in extra hours in the kitchen, taking meetings on the weekends or staying late to clean up, I know it is up to me to put on my big girl pants and make it happen.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Maya’s Cookies is America’s #1 Black-Owned Gourmet Vegan Cookie Company. Back in 2015, I founded Maya’s Cookies as a way to put my three sons through college and the business has grown exponentially since then.

Originally, as a vegan with a sweet tooth, I had not been able to find that perfectly delicious, soft-baked gourmet vegan cookie so I took matters into my own hands and spent years developing my perfect recipe. From there, Maya’s Cookies has quickly grown from a San Diego farmer’s market pop-up to a business with national reach.

Our biggest hurdle so far happened in June of 2020. With the Black Lives Matter movement creating a national push to support Black-owned businesses, our small business received a rapid outpouring of support. In a matter of days, our online order queue went from 20 orders to 10,000 orders and while we were not prepared by any means, we were determined to make it work.

I enlisted the help of friends, family, and staff as I worked long days and even longer nights to fulfill each order of hand-made, hand-scooped cookies. It was incredibly exhausting but worth it.

After the push in June, we were able to open our first storefront here in San Diego in November of 2020, which has become one of my favorite aspects of the business. I love chatting with regulars, meeting first time visitors and watching families and friends enjoy my cookies as they sit outside the shop.

No matter the challenges that we face at Maya’s Cookies, the motto is always “put your big girl pants on and get it done.” I am surrounded by a great support system and a passionate team of people with aligning values. We know that no matter the hurdle, we can get it done together.

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?
There are so many great, vegan spots in San Diego it is definitely worth exploring as many as you can!

To start, spending the day in Coronado is always fun for the whole family. I recommend renting bikes to ride around, visiting some of the local cafes and checking out the beach at The Del.

For lunch or dinner, Plumeria Vegetarian is a must. Make a day of it by visiting their Encinitas location and taking some time to stroll down the main street, pop into some cute shops and finish the evening with a walk on the beach.

For a mid-day treat or after-dinner dessert, Stella Jeans Ice Cream is a great option. While their menu isn’t entirely vegan, they always have a great selection of vegan flavors to choose from. Plus, their waffle cones are vegan and gluten free! My personal favorite is the Matcha Pistachio, but their seasonal selections are always delicious.

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?
I think Cassandra Schaeg deserves a major shoutout. She is the Founder of SIP Wine and Beer in Escondido but she’s also a major advocate for Black and brown representation in the food and wine industries. Cassandra is always looking to support and uplift other woman-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses that often get overlooked in our industries. Not only is she a joy to be around, but she has cultivated a sense of community that welcomes me with open arms, with I am so appreciate of.

Website: https://www.mayascookies.com/

Instagram: @mayascookiessandiego

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mayascookies

Twitter: @mayascookies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayascookiessandiego

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mayas-cookies-san-diego-6?sort_by=date_desc

Image Credits
Kinda Arzon

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.