“It’s cookies, ice cream and smiles,” says Byron Horton, employee at Insomnia cookies. Insomnia is a dessert shop open until 3 a.m. in the morning, with a delivery system running until 2:45 a.m.
Jacob Bryant, a recent addition to the Birmingham Insomnia, says “I love it. The atmosphere is definitely great, we have great co-workers and the cookies are great of course.” Insomnia is a very unique sweet treat. It not only has wonderful cookies and ice cream, but also extremely late hours which give it a special twist.
The prime hours for cookie sales are roughly between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., although “you do have the occasional people that decide they want to come at 3 o’clock in the morning to get cookies,” Bryant says.
Due to the late hours and the location in downtown Birmingham, it isn’t surprising that these employees have some interesting interactions with customers. Horton says the homeless and the intoxicated people frequent Insomnia in the late hours. “The drunk people come in all the time and they’ll buy us cookies and ice cream when we actually work here just to be nice and spend money,” Horton laughs.
Insomnia had its start in a dorm room. The owner began the business when he was in college. “To pay for his schooling and classes, he actually baked cookies,” and sold them, Horton says. The business flourished as he began to make a brand of cookies. While everyone can enjoy Insomnia cookies, “it’s basically for the college students,” according to Horton. He continues, “it’s a nice laid back, college-type chill spot.” He also says it’s geared toward college students with the late hours because everyone can relate to the late nights of studying or having fun. During finals it is a popular place because an Insomnia cookie can help take the edge off and give you the encouragement to make it through the semester.
Heather Gonzalez, a college student at Samford University, is an Insomnia addict. “I definitely think it’s a hot spot for college kids,” she continues, “I love the idea that when I’m up late and need a study break, there is an amazing cookie place I can go grab a treat to give me a boost.”
Insomnia Cookies has done an amazing job not only by making cookies that are incomparable, but by making it a late night destination for college kids and any cookie lover alike.
Hear more about the humble beginnings of Insomnia Cookies from Byron Horton in the audio below!
Insomnia Story from Emily Smythe on Vimeo.
Sweet Eats of Birmingham 