Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire, has died at the age of 88. He also became a children’s literacy advocate in his later years. After losing ownership of the company and the rights to use his name, Amos opened a cookie shop called Chip & Cookie in Hawaii. He passed away at his home in Honolulu, surrounded by his family. His children described him as a source of Black pride and a great American success story. Despite facing personal and professional challenges, he remained optimistic and inspired a generation of entrepreneurs.
Amos founded the world’s first cookie store on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1975, after being stationed in Hawaii with the Air Force. He made sacrifices to run a business from Hawaii, which included handling early morning business calls with mainland partners. While he excelled as a promoter, Amos struggled as a businessman and eventually lost control of the Famous Amos company. His son, Shawn Amos, described how losing the business and the right to use his name was a painful experience for his father, who spent the rest of his life trying to reclaim that space in the business world.
In addition to the Famous Amos brand, Amos co-founded Uncle Wally’s Muffin Co., which distributes products nationwide. He once said that being famous was overrated, and focused on his passion for baking and promoting reading. Amos was actively involved in literacy programs, including volunteering with Literacy Volunteers of America and receiving honors for his efforts. Despite setbacks in his business endeavors, he continued to inspire others through his motivational talks and writing. Following the loss of his first company, Amos rekindled his love for baking and opened Chip & Cookie in Hawaii in 1991.
Amos’ journey from a high school dropout to a successful entrepreneur and literacy advocate was marked by resilience and determination. Born in Tallahassee, Florida, he moved to New York City at a young age and learned to bake chocolate chip cookies from his aunt. After a brief military stint, he pursued a career in the entertainment industry before venturing into the business world. His children reflected on the impact of baking cookies together as a family, highlighting the cultural significance of this tradition. Despite the challenges he faced in his professional life, Amos left behind a legacy of entrepreneurship, advocacy, and inspiration for future generations.
