Dart: Man reinvented himself in the cookie business
Published on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 7:00 am
BROOKHAVEN — Joe Campbell sits in Marju’s Cadillac in front of Quick Health on Brookway Boulevard, where The Dart landed Thursday afternoon. He is known as “Ta Kooky Man” written on the back of Ta Kooky Trap’s shirt.
Tha Kuki Trap is a company that was started two years ago to create wealth for the children. The aim is to create a storefront and household name. Now, it’s displacing weekend baked goods.
The maroon Cadillac with its whitewall tires and logo on the driver’s side door is an asset to the business. He said he kept it for his car and liked the old school look.
“If you stop by it has the best cookies,” he said. “Wherever I go, I’m known as Ta Kuki Man. I love it when kids ride the school bus or their parents yell about cookies.
Campbell is a native of Brookhaven and attended Brookhaven High School. He chose to go into business, working as a welder and in warehouses. His world came crashing down six years ago when he was diagnosed with spinal meningitis, a build-up of fluid around the brain and spinal cord.
“It almost killed me. I was in the hospital for two months and on life support for two weeks. I spent three years in surgery and home rest. I was denied disability,” Campbell said. “It became very difficult for me, so I asked God to give me space and help me. I wanted to go forward for my children. That’s what he did, and that’s what he did. At that time, I continued to push forward and put God first. Instead of thinking about what’s broken, you think about everything you have.”
The mother-in-law wanted to start a bakery, so she had all the tools and equipment needed for business. She taught him how to bake cookies, and added his own twist to branding.
With humble beginnings in cars and hopes to expand into franchises, the business is now two years old. The Cookie Trap logo includes his son Josiah and daughters Jordan and Hayley.
His wife handles the graphic design. It is a family business where everyone works together to grow the business. Ultimately, he said, the goal is to pass on a legacy.
Plus, he hopes his story will inspire people. He said they don’t have to be doctors or lawyers to be successful. People can get into good things and use it to build their future.
His near-death experience affected his outlook on life. It forced him to reinvent himself.
“Life is precious and valuable. The most important thing is to have faith. God is real,” he said. “After the illness, I had to renew myself. My business also faced some challenges. In my free time, I come up with different ideas and try to expand the business. I am always thinking of new ideas.” He’s set a goal for me, and I’ve got a lot of work to do until it’s reached. I’ve got to go and get there.”
