<P> Coles and Great American Cookie Company were initially met with rejection from mall owners and managers . Leasing space was denied under the assumption that the cookie concept would fail outside of east and west coast markets . The first store in Perimeter Mall became successful in its first month, and the company, originally named The Original Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Company but renamed Great American Cookie Company in 1985 and later Great American Cookies, first became franchised a year after its opening . </P> <P> When Coles sold Great American Cookies to Mrs. Fields Famous Brands in 1998, the company had sales of over $100 million . </P> <P> On January 29, 2008, Great American Cookies was acquired by NexCen Brands Inc. for its Quick Service Restaurant portfolio, which included sister companies Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery and Pretzelmaker . Since July 2010, this portfolio of brands has been owned by Global Franchise Group, LLC, an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, and managed by GFG Management . </P> <P> On June 22, 2017, Great American Cookies celebrated its 40th birthday by giving away free cookies to the first 40 customers at participating locations . The company also offered cookies for 40 cents in honor of the celebration . </P>

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