RIP Mothers Cookies: 1914-2008

[MissJeanavive]

This news is as old as October but I just met a man who shared the story that 6-weeks ago he came back from vacation and had no job because 'Mothers Cookies' shut down.

Yes, that's right that means No More 'Circus Animals' this made me sad. I can't think of the last time I had the little pink and white animals with the sprinkles but I know I loved them. I feel a little part of my childhood has been taken away. Lets hope someone recognizes the value of the brand and give it a new life. I am planning to poke around some stores to see if there are any on the shelf to put away in my time capsule.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD CIRCUS ANIMALS?

"According to industry lore, the company was founded in 1914 by a newspaper vendor, N.M. Wheatley, as a one-person shop. It expanded and moved to the 81st Avenue location in 1949.

Mother's later had a series of corporate owners: a Belgian company, Artal B.V., bought it in 1991; it was owned by Specialty Foods Corp. of Illinois in the late 1990s; in 2000, Specialty sold Mother's and Archway Cookies to Parmalat, which in turn sold the combined business to Catterton for an undisclosed sum." (SF Gate)

 

[Lady Day]

Thats just downright sad.

LD

 

[Slim Portly]

When I was a lad we often had a bag of those in the kitchen pantry, and my siblings and I took great pleasure in trying to sound risqué by saying things like, "Pass me those Mothers."

 

[Rachael]

as a child, my sisters and I would often argue which color tasted better. I was a fan of the white ones, which is odd because I prefer pink Good N Plenty's. One of my sisters would use the sprinkly crumbs at the bottom of the bag as an ice cream topping.

 

[Sydney Loren]

as a child, my sisters and I would often argue which color tasted better.

I did the same thing with my brother and my mother.

It's a shame about Mother's though.

 

[Miss Crisplock]

NNNNnnnnooooooooooooooo


And the pink ones are better.

 

[Josephine]

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD CIRCUS ANIMALS?

A few days ago, actually. As soon as I heard about this mid October I went and cleaned out my grocery store. We had the Archway versions here though.

 

[Hondo]

My Mom used to buy them for me as a kid, how very sad,
its my hope since closing is recent, someone (please) takes over,
brings it back! New and improved!!!

 

[The Wolf]

I too had heard the sad news. My wife bought some circus cookies once she heard. Actually, I don't really like the hard candies on the cookies.
I prefered Mother's macaroons after they had sat out open over night. I liked most Mothers cookies actually.

Sadly,
The Wolf

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

*Noooooo!!!!*

*wails inconsolably*

I wish I'd heard about this sooner; I'd have gone to the store and bought some. I loved these as a kid. Maybe the grocery store still has a bag left? *hopes*

 

[mannySpaghetti]

Forget circus animals, no more baseball cards!

 

[eldonkr]

but . . . .

no

 

[MissJeanavive]

Ebay Mother's Cookies

Ha! they have amade their way to Ebay and I am actually thinking about getting a bag to show my kids one day (that is if I have any)...I will keep poking around stores; perhaps I will get lucky at one of the odd ball markets around town.

 

[StaceFace]

*wails*

This is tragic. Those were/are my favorites! After I finish my movie, I am going to Walmart to find some (if there are any) .

 

[Brinybay]

At first I thought you were talking about these. These are what I remember as a kid. I was relieved that it wasn't so. Nabisco Animal Crackers are still around:

 

[Down2BDapper]

I used to love the oatmeal ones with the white frosting on top. We always had those in the house when I was in junior high, but I haven't had any in years. That's sad.

 

[MissJeanavive]

Success!

I have had success of building a collection of mother's cookies, the Tea cookies and the Circus Animals!! I was getting sad because I couldn't find those. I lucked out at Walgreen's and Target. Now, I would like to find the Frosted Oatmeal cookies. Now the question is what to do with these pieces of history? eat them, store them...I thought about having a wake at my house and have a ceremonial eating of the cookies in proper attire of course.

 

[C.K.Farnsworth]

the wake seems most appropriate

I have had success of building a collection of mother's cookies, the Tea cookies and the Circus Animals!! I was getting sad because I couldn't find those. I lucked out at Walgreen's and Target. Now, I would like to find the Frosted Oatmeal cookies. Now the question is what to do with these pieces of history? eat them, store them...I thought about having a wake at my house and have a ceremonial eating of the cookies in proper attire of course.

I Looove those little cookies! I remember as a kid trying to discerne the flavor difference between the white and the pink ones.

If you put them away in a time capsule and they out live their shelf-life then someone may eat them and not appreciate them in all their glory. It's best to enjoy them one last time and release their spirit into the great confectionary beyond... That's how I feel about it.

~C.K.

 

[Real Swell Gal]

I craved them when I was preggers with my youngest daughter.
I could sit and eat the whole bag.
Actually I would sit and eat the whole bag.

 

[Josephine]

I found 2 more bags of the Animals in my grocery store. Got them both.