HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Hendersonville 12-year-old John Roman Sexton started a cookie business after he found himself with more time on his hands due to COVID-19.
"It kicked off during quarantine because I really had nothing to do and I've always had a passion for baking," said John Roman Sexton.
The Cake Boss superfan created his business Cookieopolis after he baked his younger sister cookies for her May 1 birthday.
"I really wanted to do something special for her and I was like 'let's do cookies' because most of the grocery stores were all closed and they wouldn't really do anything like that so we made it ourselves," said Sexton.
Word spread quickly about his decorated cookies. By mid-July, he had baked and designed more than 3,000 cookies for customers in half a dozen states.
"It makes me feel like a better person. It gives me more ways to talk to people whenever they come to pick up cookies and it just makes me have better communication," said John Roman.
The 12-year-old has amassed an extensive collection of cookie cutters, sprinkles and stencils since creating the business in May.
He is saving his cookie profits for college. He is hopeful to receive a swim scholarship at the University of Kentucky.
"I'm saving it because I want to go to Kentucky, and if I don't get a scholarship from swim, I will have money left over to pay for college," he said.
Custom orders can be sent to John Roman on the Cookieopolis facebook page.
