Ex-Dallas Cowboys player and wife open chocolate chip cafe in Downtown Arlington

(CultureMap Fort Worth)  A former Dallas Cowboys defensive back is getting into the cookie business. Charlie Williams and his wife, Sharonda Williams, are opening a Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip cafe at the University of Texas at Arlington's (College Park District in Downtown Arlington).

The cafe will open in the College Park Center on Tuesday, November 5.

Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip is the dessert and bakery café that summons the traditions of Nestlé brands.

They sell bakery items such as cookies, brownies, mini chocolate chip cookies, muffins, and cupcakes, as well as fountain beverages and ice cream sandwiches.

The Williams' store will be the 14th location in Dallas-Fort Worth and the 35th in Texas. There are 122 locations system-wide.

Williams says in a statement that his wife, Sharonda, was the inspiration.

"My wife served 25 years in the corporate world, but she recently decided it was time to get out of that space, so we looked into franchising," Williams says. "Sharonda stopped in a Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip location and fell in love with the cookies. We knew immediately that we wanted to own a location."

They also like the idea of the sports environment.

"We're really excited to be café owners and we are looking forward to giving fans premium treats while they enjoy a game," he says.

This is their first Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip location, but the duo will open a second at the Shops at Broad in Mansfield in late November.

The concept debuted in 2000 and is versatile, with kiosk, in-line mall, and street café locations.

Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip is also the official Guinness World Records title holder for the "Longest Line of Cookies," achieved on May 15, 2019 in Frisco, Texas, no less.

Story by Teresa Gubbins was originally published in CultureMap Dallas on November 1, 2019. Photo courtesy of Nestlé Toll House Café. Also featured in CultureMap Dallas and the Ft. Worth Business Press.