For many, simply the thought of fresh-baked cookies conjures up memories of childhood kitchens, complete with a sweet fragrance and a smile. For Ebony Paul, the warm family feeling is not so much a memory as it is a part of her business plan.
She opened the bakery, Brown Suga, in Olathe after picking up baking during the Covid pandemic. While Ebony intended to keep it a hobby, her mom, Reba Paul, thought her cookies were good enough to build a business around and started selling them. Now, Reba is the community and events coordinator for Brown Suga, and they’ve since opened a second store in Leawood’s Park Place and purchased a cookie trailer for events. Mom knew best.
While Ebony’s family helps keep the business running, it’s other Kansas City families that keep the cookies in demand. Families pop in for a celebratory bite, dates stop in after dinner for an informal sweet, and many birthday orders fill the calendar for those who prefer cookies over cake.
Ebony knows that a good cookie can make just about anything a little sweeter: “A woman once came in right before closing after having a hard day with her son. She just needed a little pick-me-up. Sometimes people don’t need a big celebration—they just need something sweet at the end of a long day.” (1066 W. Santa Fe St., Olathe, and 11529 Ash St., Leawood).
