When my mom, Bergen, opened One Hot Cookie in 2013, I was a teenager just trying to survive high school. I didn't fully understand what she was building - I just knew we were suddenly spending a lot of time baking cookies, coming up with things to put on top of them, and hauling supplies back and forth every day.
Looking back now, I realize I was witnessing something really powerful - a woman fearlessly creating a business from scratch, turning her creativity into something tangible, and showing me, without ever saying it out loud, that passion and grit can turn an idea into a legacy.
The Start of Something Bigger
At the time, One Hot Cookie was more than just a cookie shop. It became a second home. Literally, in college, I lived in the same building just a few floors above One Hot Cookie. I worked there. I met my husband there. And as much as I rolled my eyes about it then, I secretly loved being part of it. I watched my mom build something that brought people joy, and I saw firsthand how much hard work and heart it took behind the scenes.
What I didn’t realize then was how deeply those experiences would shape me.
Carrying It Forward
Now, over a decade later, I find myself back in the family business - but in a very different role. I’m proud to oversee production at Gorant Chocolates, a brand that has a connection to seemingly everyone I talk to.
I spend my days managing the processes that go into making every meltaway, candy bar, and chocolate-enrobed creation. It’s fast-paced and requires organization and attention to detail, exactly the kind of work I love. And every day, I feel connected to something bigger than just a business. It’s about heritage, pride, and the kind of quality that only comes from people who truly care.
A New Generation
The meaning of family business has changed for me again, because now I have a son. And I find myself thinking about what he’ll learn just by watching us. Will he remember the smell of fresh chocolate from the production floor? The hustle of holidays and the joy of taste-testing something new? Will he someday realize, as I did, that family business isn’t just about what you make - it’s about who you become in the process?
My mom built a foundation with One Hot Cookie. I’m proud to be helping shape what comes next. And I’m incredibly grateful that, just like she did for me, I get to show my son what it looks like to work hard, dream big, and keep it all in the family.
- Morgen Giordani Chretien
