Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole Jones.
Hi Cole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Euless, Texas. I’ve always been driven; I was proud to be the first person in my family to graduate from college, earning a degree in Meteorology from Texas Tech University. For years, I lived my dream—chasing storms and tracking tornadoes across the country. It was an exciting, unpredictable, and deeply fulfilling life… until the world changed during the pandemic.
When everything slowed down, my grandmother, Rubye, came to live with us. At first, we only noticed small things: pies that came out soupy, cakes that didn’t rise, or salt being used instead of sugar. Eventually, those “small things” led to a diagnosis none of us were prepared for: Alzheimer’s disease.
The news devastated our family. Watching the woman who was the heart of our lives slowly lose pieces of herself has been one of the hardest experiences of my life. My grandmother was always the woman in the flour-stained apron, the one who filled every holiday trip to Tulsa with the aroma of lemon and chocolate cakes, sweet potato pies, and her famous lemon meringue.
One day, while going through her desk, I found her old cookbooks. Holding those worn, handwritten pages instantly brought back memories of standing beside her in the kitchen, watching her bake with such joy and intention. In that moment, something sparked in me—a mix of grief, love, and a fierce desire to preserve the parts of her that Alzheimer’s was trying to take away.
That spark became Cole’s Custom Cheesecakes.
I built this business to honor my grandmother and carry her legacy forward. Every cheesecake I craft is inspired by her—her flavors, her techniques, and the love she baked into every slice. There’s something sacred that happens in the kitchen; it’s the one place where I feel I am protecting the essence of her that the disease cannot touch.
My grandmother is now 93. Though her memory is fading, there are two things she still deeply understands: the Lord and the love of family. Those two values guide every decision I make. I want each cheesecake to feel like a piece of home—warm, authentic, and purposeful.
She may never fully understand the impact she’s had on this business, but every time a customer tells me how much they love a cheesecake, it feels like I’m honoring her story. It’s my way of saying, “Your legacy lives on through me.” Through every bake, I’m making sure her light never fades.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. When I first started, I was a complete no-name in the dessert world. It’s hard to sell cheesecakes when no one knows who you are, what you stand for, or why your product is different. I remember days of total exhaustion—pouring everything I had into the business while wondering if people would ever notice the legacy I was trying to build.
But I was determined to make it work. I knew my ‘why,’ and that kept me going. I realized that if I wanted people to care about my cheesecakes, I had to show them the heart behind the brand. I dove headfirst into the community, joining the Keller Chamber of Commerce, showing up consistently at local farmers markets, and partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association. Using my business to raise awareness and funds for a cause so close to my heart gave my work a deeper dimension.
Every step helped me grow—not just in exposure, but in connection. People began to learn my story, try the cheesecakes, and share them with their own families. What started as a quiet, uphill climb eventually turned into momentum. That growth didn’t happen overnight; it came from showing up, staying true to my purpose, and connecting with my neighbors one slice at a time. I’ve learned that in business, just like in storm chasing, you have to be willing to navigate the rough weather to find the beauty on the other side.
As you know, we’re big fans of Cole’s Custom Cheesecakes. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Cole’s Custom Cheesecakes was created with one singular purpose: to bring people together through the joy of dessert, inspired by the family recipes that shaped my childhood. What started as a personal mission to honor my grandmother’s legacy has grown into a brand built on love, tradition, and a desire to create meaningful connections, one slice at a time.
We specialize in handcrafted, small-batch cheesecakes made with high-quality ingredients and a tremendous amount of intention. What truly sets us apart is the foundation of our recipes—each cheesecake is built using my grandmother’s specific pie-making techniques. Instead of a standard dessert, you’re tasting something deeply rooted in heritage. It is familiar, nostalgic, and comforting in a way that reminds you of home.
But the true soul of this business isn’t just the dessert—it’s the story behind it. When my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I felt a strong pull to preserve the flavors and memories she poured into every holiday and every gathering. Her influence is woven into everything we bake. Each cheesecake carries a piece of her story, and sharing that with the world is a responsibility I carry with immense pride.
I am equally proud of the community we’ve built. Whether we are partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association, showing up at local markets, or meeting families who make our cheesecakes a part of their own celebrations, community is our heartbeat. Our mission is to create more than just a dessert; we want to create moments of joy, comfort, and togetherness.
What I want readers to know is that Cole’s Custom Cheesecakes is more than a bakery. It is a continuation of my grandmother’s life, a celebration of family, and a reminder that food has the power to connect us all across generations. When you enjoy one of our cheesecakes, you’re tasting a piece of our family tradition—and we are honored to share that with you.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
At the end of the day, what matters most to me is God, family, and the legacy we are building together. My faith is the foundation of everything I do; it guides my decisions, keeps me grounded, and continually reminds me that this business is a calling, not just a career. I truly believe God placed this dream on my heart during a time when my family needed purpose and hope—especially as we began navigating my grandmother Rubye’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Family is the core of that purpose, and that shows up in our daily life. While my grandmother’s baking inspired every recipe I create, my mother is the heartbeat that keeps this business running. Known to our community as ‘Mama Jones,’ she is my biggest supporter, the primary caregiver for my grandmother, and the true voice of our business. She is the face our customers see at the markets and the one who nurtures our community relationships with such passion. Her strength and dedication are the reasons Cole’s Custom Cheesecakes has flourished.
Together, my mother and I carry forward my grandmother’s legacy—honoring her recipes, her joy, and the love she poured into our family. Every cheesecake we craft is rooted in those values: faith, family, tradition, and togetherness.
What matters most to me is knowing that God is guiding this journey, that I get to build something meaningful with my mother by my side, and that every dessert we create carries a piece of my grandmother’s spirit into the world. That is the kind of legacy worth preserving.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://colescustomcheesecakes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coles_custom_cheesecakes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColesCustomCheesecakes/
Image Credits
All photos were taken by me.
