Red’s Scratch Made in Mooresville, NC has quickly become a local sensation with its oversized cookies and made-from-scratch approach to baking.
Located on Main Street just past downtown, this charming bakery has been satisfying sweet tooths for over three years. Owner Robin Goodrich transformed her lifelong passion for baking into a thriving business that serves more than 100 customers daily.
Let’s explore the story behind those irresistible cookies and the woman who makes them happen.
Red’s Scratch Made – From Side Hustle to Sweet Success
Robin never expected to become the area’s cookie queen. Her journey began far from the kitchen, as she initially pursued a career as a hairstylist.
“I was supposed to be a hairstylist, actually. I’m not good at it, it turns out,” Robin laughs.
While working at salons, Robin often baked for colleagues. The positive feedback made her wonder if she was in the wrong profession.
Robin’s entrepreneurial breakthrough came thanks to her boyfriend’s family. They noticed her experimenting with cookie recipes – a tradition she inherited from her mother, the neighborhood’s “chocolate chip cookie lady.”
Her boyfriend’s sister, who runs Southern Charm at the Farm, offered Robin a vendor spot. Her cookies sold out within hours. The enthusiastic response convinced her family that baking was Robin’s calling.
“I was bored in an office job anyway and I thought, why not, let’s just try it,” Robin explains. She began selling at markets and brewery events while still working her day job.
The early days weren’t easy. Robin would rent commercial kitchen space from 6 PM to midnight, baking with small home mixers. Each batch produced just nine cookies, making large orders incredibly labor-intensive.
“First time at midnight I told my mom I’m never doing this again,” Robin recalls. “I didn’t enjoy one second of that and I never want to do it again.”
But persistence paid off. Eventually, Robin found a suitable building and established Red’s Scratch Made Bakery in December 2019. Now with proper equipment and a dedicated space, she’s created a thriving local business.
Photo credit: Cayce Blackley – @livinginlakenorman
Not Your Average Cookies
What makes Red’s Scratch Made cookies stand out? Size, for one thing. Robin’s cookies break the mold of traditional baking, inspired by her mother’s unconventional approach.
“My mom’s cookies were my inspiration growing up,” Robin explains. “She would put double the amount of chocolate and make it three times the size it called for.”
The bakery specializes in oversized cookies packed with premium ingredients. Robin uses high-quality Calibo chocolate and other top-tier brands, refusing to compromise on quality.
“I don’t like cookies without mix-ins,” she says. Don’t expect to find plain snickerdoodles here – every cookie comes loaded with delicious extras and chunks.
Red’s signature creations feature entirely scratch-made components. Their key lime pie cookies contain housemade key lime filling, toasted marshmallow fluff, and graham cracker mix-ins.
“Just everything is completely handmade,” Robin emphasizes. The bakery regularly creates fresh curds, caramels, ganaches, and frostings for their rotating cookie flavors.
Each cookie is weighed and scooped by hand to ensure consistency. The result? Perfectly proportioned, big, heavy cookies that keep customers coming back for more.
Photo credit: Cayce Blackley – @livinginlakenorman
Community-Focused and Freshly Baked
Red’s Scratch Made operates primarily as a walk-in bakery, serving over 100 customers daily. They’re open Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 11 AM—no early morning wake-ups required.
While many cookie companies focus on online sales, Robin has intentionally built her business around in-person connections. “I kind of felt like I just want to focus on the people here,” she explains.
The bakery does offer shipping for special occasions like birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and especially Christmas. However, walk-in business remains their primary focus. This local-first approach allows for greater creativity with flavors.
“That allows us to make more fun flavors too, because you can’t ship certain things,” Robin points out.
Cream cheese-based creations, for instance, can’t be safely mailed. By focusing on in-store sales, Red’s can experiment with a wider variety of ingredients and toppings. Cookie flavors change regularly at Red’s. They post available options daily on their Facebook and Instagram accounts by 11 AM, keeping customers informed about the day’s offerings.
The rotation happens naturally based on inventory. “Maybe we still had dough left over from last week’s flavor,” Robin explains. They bake remaining dough before creating new flavors.
This flexible approach reduces waste while providing customers with a constantly evolving menu. It also creates a sense of excitement—you never know what delicious creation awaits your next visit.
Robin credits this business model with maintaining better work-life balance. By keeping operations streamlined and focused, she’s created a successful bakery without burning the candle at both ends.
Photo credit: Cayce Blackley – @livinginlakenorman
It’s All About People
When asked about entrepreneurial advice, Robin doesn’t hesitate: “Owning a business is so much about people. More than anything else.”
While making excellent products is crucial, Robin believes successful businesses are built on relationships. “There’s very few businesses that you can do by yourself,” she points out.
Robin’s management style centers on understanding each employee’s unique needs. “I think just learning how to speak to different people differently,” she explains as a key to her success. She recognizes that management requires adaptability. “Some people are more sensitive than others,” Robin notes. “You really have to be in tune with your employees.”
Her approach stands in contrast to what she’s heard about other workplaces. “I’ve heard so many horror stories… like, the manager was awful,” she says from her interview experiences.
Robin prides herself on being “the nicest manager you will ever have.” She avoids negative language like “why did you do it this way?” when correcting mistakes. Instead, she focuses on constructive feedback: “It’s okay, but next time we need to do it like this instead.” This positive approach creates a supportive work environment.
The result is impressive employee retention. “I have ones now that have been here two years,” Robin shares proudly. “I just want to cling on to them forever.”
Photo credit: Cayce Blackley – @livinginlakenorman
The Journey is Sweet
From late-night baking sessions with tiny mixers to a beloved local institution, Robin’s journey shows how passion and perseverance can transform a hobby into a successful business. Her commitment to quality ingredients, innovative recipes, and exceptional customer service has created a loyal following that continues to grow.
More than just selling cookies, Red’s Scratch Made represents the entrepreneurial spirit that helps small towns thrive. Robin’s emphasis on people—both customers and employees—demonstrates that genuine connections remain essential in our digital age.
Whether you’re craving a decadent cookie loaded with premium chocolate or planning to grab a specialty latte from their upcoming coffee window, a visit is well worth your time. For Lake Norman residents and visitors alike, experiencing the sweet creations at Red’s Scratch Made in Mooresville, NC should be on every foodie’s bucket list.
Red’s Scratch Made
548 N Main St unit a
Mooresville, NC 28115
(980) 444-2665
Hear Robin tell the story in episode 174 of The Best of LKN podcast!
FREE Download: Discover the BEST local small businesses!
About the Author:
Jeff Hamm is the creator and producer of The Best of LKN podcast, blog, YouTube channel, and email newsletter.
When he isn’t working, you can usually find him boating, cycling local greenways & trails, and taking walks with his dogs Sam and Maisy.
Jeff Hamm
Allen Tate Realtors®
Charlotte & Lake Norman, NC
www.LKNreal.com
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