This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:15] Amber Brzezinski: They changed our music. It's gonna bother me every single time.

[0:18] Heather Bedor: Hello.

[0:20] Amber Brzezinski: Hi.

[0:23] Heather Bedor: We used to have a dance party here, but now we're just like, okay, this is like elevator jams.

[0:27] Heather Bedor: Well, welcome to another Monday night. Um, I'm Heather, lovely lady next to me is Amber.

[0:33] Heather Bedor: And then below us are two of my favorite people in the whole wide world, Johnny and Zachary from Schmackary's. They're joining us tonight.

[0:39] Heather Bedor: So, uh, look at you guys, just I'm I was so close in the city, and I have to see you virtually, and that's okay.

[0:48] Heather Bedor: Uh, we're so glad for you to join us at the Broadway Fan Club. We're here for you. Um, we're gonna just kick it off.

[0:55] Heather Bedor: Why don't you guys tell everybody a little bit about Schmackary's? How you're so obsessive, like everybody just needs to go get a damn cookie.

[1:03] Zachary: I mean, it's okay. Um, so my name's Zach. Um, I started Schmackary's uh 14 years ago out of my 400 square foot apartment in Hell's Kitchen, New York.

[1:17] Zachary: And, uh, overnight it just kind of was one of those things where I was like one day I said I don't think I want to do this acting thing anymore, but I still want to do something creative and I like want it to like, um, you know, fuel me and make me feel like I'm doing something productive.

[1:32] Zachary: And I started baking cookies and, uh, I never thought of it as a career, and all of a sudden it just kind of took off and overnight it became this sensation.

[1:43] Zachary: And, um, and then before I knew it, everybody on Broadway was getting my cookies, and I eventually became known as the cookie of Broadway, and my whole dream, my whole entire life was to make it on Broadway, and I did, just not in the way that I thought I would.

[1:57] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, but you've been in more backstage theaters, like backstage of theaters than anybody else. You pretty much have delivered cookies everywhere.

[2:06] Amber Brzezinski: So you really made it on Broadway.

[2:10] Zachary: Exactly.

[2:11] Amber Brzezinski: But I think and you guys are also the only company that can deliver to different theaters for food-wise, like official, right? Is that right?

[2:19] Zachary: I mean, we have a good connection with the theaters, and I think that's why it's easier for us to get into theaters.

[2:24] Zachary: I don't know, I don't know that we have an exclusivity, but I mean I love that.

[2:29] Zachary: If you heard it, then I'll say that it's true.

[2:31] Zachary: More so people can go onto the website and they can be like, oh, I really love the cast of Redwood, and they want to send like Redwood cookies. You guys can actually facilitate that delivery.

[2:42] Zachary: Yeah, absolutely. Nobody else can do that.

[2:47] Zachary: Or if they can, we don't know about it. But yeah, I mean, I've been enjoying you guys since the very beginning, and, um, I brought Amber into the Schmackary's family.

[2:57] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah.

[2:59] Amber Brzezinski: Every time I go to the city, I come home with one of these.

[3:02] Zachary: Oh, I have mine too.

[3:04] Amber Brzezinski: I love it.

[3:07] Amber Brzezinski: All the way from New York to Connecticut. I enjoy those Schmackary's cookies every chance I get.

[3:15] Zachary: I feel like we're missing out. We should have had a box. Like we don't have to be.

[3:21] Amber Brzezinski: But wait, more important question, do you have the bracelets?

[3:24] Zachary: I do not see them. I'm very upset.

[3:28] Zachary: They are in the drawer though.

[3:30] Zachary: I have mine on my drawer. It's fine.

[3:32] Zachary: Just I know that we did it a couple of weeks ago. We reviewed um the new opening of Union Square location, and I kept seeing the boys, and Amber and I worked very diligently to make our famous meeted bracelets.

[3:43] Amber Brzezinski: Oh my god, they're great.

[3:45] Zachary: And we love it.

[3:45] Zachary: So I'm hoping you guys enjoyed them.

[3:47] Amber Brzezinski: But yeah, we did.

[3:49] Zachary: Well, we cannot thank you guys enough for just really being such a part of the community.

[3:53] Zachary: You guys do so much. You partner with so many different shows that we love and know.

[3:58] Amber Brzezinski: And you know, it's really hard to stay on a diet when I'm anywhere in the city and I have to go get cookies, especially for the random like buy one, get one that happened on Saturday.

[4:08] Zachary: Oh my gosh, for Women's Day, that was the best.

[4:10] Amber Brzezinski: I ended up with double the cookies that I normally get.

[4:15] Zachary: I'm so sorry.

[4:16] Zachary: I'm so, so happy.

[4:18] Zachary: I know when I when we were like going over the plan for it, we were like, we should just give all of our ladies like a buy one, get one.

[4:24] Zachary: And like, you know, we want to let people know that we not only do we support women, but we want to like support women who support their girls, and so that was like the whole point of it.

[4:32] Zachary: It's like bringing your girlfriend and share a cookie, and um, yeah, we love doing things like that.

[4:37] Zachary: Like it's super fun for us to get super involved with the community and have fun with a job that like, you know, we can play around with and that's yeah, it's a really awesome thing that we can do.

[4:52] Amber Brzezinski: Every time, yeah.

[4:54] Amber Brzezinski: Oh my god, I love that cookie.

[4:55] Amber Brzezinski: And I feel like I was so rude because I like told you how I started, but obviously we were missing this very important piece right here.

[5:02] Zachary: He's right there.

[5:04] Zachary: Um, so this is my husband Johnny, and, uh, and Johnny joined on the Schmackary's train during the pandemic when, uh, like nobody wanted to come to work because they were like, uh, terrified.

[5:18] Johnny: And then Johnny was like, I'll help you out.

[5:20] Zachary: And so he came and started helping me with my business, and, um, then he kind of just became indispensable, and he started wearing so many hats at Schmackary's, and I was like, clapping leave, don't leave, please don't leave.

[5:34] Zachary: And then, um, eventually he just became my right-hand guy, and we started running this business together, and it was never something that like either of us thought of.

[5:42] Zachary: It's again this has been like a business of a bunch of things that just kind of like fell into our laps where it was like, you know, this kind of fell into my lap, and I never thought of it as a business.

[5:51] Zachary: And then I was like, come help me for a couple weeks, and then now he's been here for five years, almost five years.

[5:56] Johnny: Five years, so um, yeah, it's a happy accident.

[6:01] Zachary: A happy accident, totally happy accident.

[6:03] Johnny: Yeah, it's funny because I came from the makeup world, and I actually have done, you know, a ton of uh work for Broadway doing makeup, and my brother thought it was hilarious because he's like, you went from putting foundation on to people, and now you're just putting frosting on cookies, so it's kind of the same thing, just you know, different tools of the cookies, it's something frosting is basically makeup for cookies, exactly.

[6:27] Johnny: Yeah, or some people do put their foundation on like frosting, it's like super thick, some people do cake it on.

[6:34] Johnny: I mean, you know, I can say I haven't seen it a few times in my career.

[6:39] Johnny: But yeah, but it's definitely um, it's been really fun, and I think what I really love about Schmackary's is the community aspect, and I love just like seeing people happy, you know.

[6:52] Johnny: One thing that was really important for me was doing makeup was when people would look at themselves in the mirror and they're like, oh my god, I feel amazing.

[6:58] Johnny: And I get that same feeling when I see people enjoying our cookies and, you know, having a really awesome coffee, or when we have a new dessert, like we started doing these tres leches cakes, and people are like, what the heck is happening here?

[7:10] Zachary: And it makes me so excited to be like, Oreo trysant.

[7:13] Johnny: Oh, it's insane.

[7:14] Johnny: The truth is on another level.

[7:16] Zachary: I love a tres leches cake.

[7:19] Johnny: You are barking up the right tree.

[7:21] Zachary: Oh my god, we have a milk and cookies one coming out, and it is literally good on it's so good.

[7:28] Amber Brzezinski: Why are you doing this to me?

[7:30] Johnny: Right.

[7:31] Johnny: And it's only on for the weekend, so it's all it's our little Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

[7:35] Johnny: It's our little secret.

[7:36] Zachary: So haul butt over to either the Times Square location or Union Square.

[7:41] Zachary: Go visit Alex and Stacey over Union Square because they're part of the Schmackary's family too.

[7:45] Zachary: And you've got so many other locations. We'll get all into that in a little bit.

[7:49] Heather Bedor: But we're gonna hit up some Broadway news and see what else is going on if it's crazy and let's do it.

[7:55] Amber Brzezinski: Amber, it's all right.

[7:57] Amber Brzezinski: We have some openings, we have some cool openings going on.

[8:02] Heather Bedor: Let's I can't really see your face. I'm not sure what's happening.

[8:04] Amber Brzezinski: I see cleavage, which I'm very proud of, but there we go.

[8:08] Heather Bedor: Um, so tonight, tonight, we have the Picture of Dorian Gray beginning performances on Broadway.

[8:20] Amber Brzezinski: They're starting their previews, which is a show that Heather and I are both very excited to see.

[8:25] Amber Brzezinski: And it's like a block away from the store at Schmackary's.

[8:30] Zachary: Oh, absolutely.

[8:33] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, okay. Tomorrow night, right next door at the Imperial, we have first opening night for Smash.

[8:40] Zachary: Yeah, for first that will be exciting.

[8:43] Amber Brzezinski: Obviously, which we might have a little surprise um collab coming up potentially.

[8:49] Zachary: Good thing we run that band group too.

[8:54] Amber Brzezinski: But it's great.

[8:55] Amber Brzezinski: Well, that's how Amber found out about Schmackary's is that we were both freezing our asses off at opening night for Water for Elephants.

[9:02] Zachary: Oh.

[9:03] Amber Brzezinski: And I'm like, do you want to go down to Schmackary's and go get like cookies and hot cocoa or our apple cider?

[9:08] Zachary: And she's like, what Schmackary's?

[9:09] Amber Brzezinski: Mike Schmackary's?

[9:10] Zachary: And she's like, no, what is that?

[9:11] Amber Brzezinski: And I was like, we're going right now.

[9:14] Zachary: So we walked down to the store and like she's been obsessed ever since.

[9:18] Amber Brzezinski: And my introduction to the store was probably right as you started, to be honest, through my friend Shauna Bresnahan, um, who was like my theater mom essentially, even though we're the same age, she kind of guided me into the theater industry a little bit.

[9:29] Amber Brzezinski: And I love her for it, but she turned me on to Schmackary's, and like I'm there more than she is now, and she lives there.

[9:35] Zachary: Oh wow.

[9:38] Amber Brzezinski: But um, yeah, so those openings are gonna be incredible.

[9:41] Amber Brzezinski: And um, I mean, you guys do a lot of collabs too. You just did one with Drive Musical.

[9:45] Zachary: Yes, it's so pretty.

[9:46] Zachary: Super fun.

[9:47] Zachary: Yeah, we um honestly the fun part about that is like, you know, we love camp, we love drag.

[9:53] Zachary: And when they approached us, I was like, I want all the girls in the store.

[9:57] Zachary: I want to do something super fun.

[9:59] Zachary: Of course, we'll make the cookie super gay if we're not gay enough.

[10:07] Johnny: And it was great.

[10:09] Zachary: We had the Queens in um last Saturday.

[10:12] Amber Brzezinski: This color there she is.

[10:15] Johnny: Oh, so she's I like I'm like, do I even want to eat her?

[10:19] Johnny: Because she's like the last one.

[10:22] Amber Brzezinski: I brought you one last week.

[10:23] Johnny: I know.

[10:24] Johnny: That's why I'm like, do I just want to like you forever because you're so beautiful?

[10:24] Amber Brzezinski: So beautiful.

[10:30] Amber Brzezinski: Well, and you had Yaye and Remy in in the store helping out, just which is great.

[10:35] Amber Brzezinski: And I was so mad because I was in the city that day, and I did not know the event was happening, otherwise I would have stopped by.

[10:41] Zachary: Because we had them on the show, what, two weeks ago, three weeks ago.

[10:44] Johnny: Oh, really?

[10:45] Johnny: Yeah, we it was honestly, it was like a actually one of the most last minute things that we did.

[10:50] Johnny: And I even asked them, I was like, do you guys are you cool with this being last minute?

[10:53] Johnny: Because I usually like about, you know, four or five days to kind of do a teaser and then have a follow-up, and they were like, these are drag queens, honey.

[11:01] Johnny: Everything is last minute.

[11:03] Zachary: So we feel it's a good one.

[11:09] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, I think we did bad.

[11:11] Zachary: It was, yeah, it was hilarious.

[11:13] Zachary: I was like, okay.

[11:14] Zachary: Um, so the next day I come into the store and I'm like, so we have a collab um tomorrow, and we have people coming in, and they were like, what are you doing to us?

[11:23] Zachary: I'm like, it's not me, it's the drag queens.

[11:26] Johnny: Exactly.

[11:30] Amber Brzezinski: So fun.

[11:30] Amber Brzezinski: We got the opportunity to go to the Book of Mormon club that you guys did recently.

[11:34] Zachary: Oh, that was a really good one.

[11:36] Zachary: That one was that's when I literally ran into you, Johnny, smacked right into you as you were leaving the store.

[11:41] Johnny: Yes, exactly.

[11:43] Johnny: I walked up to the counter and PJ, who was there helping, was like, hi, how can I help you?

[11:50] Amber Brzezinski: And I was like, mm-mm, excuse me.

[11:53] Amber Brzezinski: And he was like, and I was like, hello.

[11:58] Amber Brzezinski: I would like a hello from the show, please.

[12:02] Johnny: Oh my god.

[12:04] Johnny: Oh my god, you're so right.

[12:07] Zachary: And I was like, thank you.

[12:13] Johnny: I have the backside of that as she's like lecturing him in the nicest and funniest way possible, and just the reaction is fantastic.

[12:21] Johnny: But we love it because you guys make Broadway more accessible to people who might not be able to see a show or might not know who these people are, but they're looking at this fun and enjoyable experience, and then they're also leaving with something that tastes hella good too.

[12:34] Zachary: That's what I really, really love about the collabs, especially when the theaters are open to doing things like that.

[12:39] Zachary: Um, you know, when we were coming out of COVID, it was really, really hard because obviously there were so many rules and regulations, and the cast had to be, you know, extra, extra careful, and it was difficult because we loved human interaction, and we really wanted to be able to let people get a piece of Broadway in that capacity.

[12:59] Zachary: And so when we would, you know, reach out to all the shows and they're like, I'm sorry, but you know, we can't expose the cast, and we were just like, oh, come on.

[13:06] Johnny: And so to be here five years later, and now almost every collab, it's people are like, yes, I have four or five members of the cast that want to come in.

[13:16] Zachary: It's and that is the reason why.

[13:18] Zachary: It's like if you can't see the show, we blast the music in the store, and it's really special for us.

[13:24] Johnny: I love that we can, yeah, it's really, really nice.

[13:28] Amber Brzezinski: Amber is gonna pick on you for one of the collabs.

[13:30] Amber Brzezinski: I'm waiting for you to talk about it.

[13:32] Amber Brzezinski: The Titanny, the chip.

[13:35] Zachary: Oh my god.

[13:37] Zachary: I bit into the Titanny cookie, and I was so excited for it, and then I was like, salt and vinegar chip choice.

[13:53] Johnny: Did not see that coming.

[13:56] Zachary: My like neither did the Titanic with the iceberg.

[13:59] Johnny: Yeah, like listen.

[14:03] Zachary: I was literally the Titanic with the iceberg.

[14:05] Zachary: I was like, this was a flavor profile that I never expected to encounter in my life chat.

[14:12] Johnny: And if you remember the iceberg from Titanic, she was a salty bitch.

[14:18] Zachary: So it needed to be a salt and vinegar chip.

[14:22] Johnny: That is completely fair.

[14:24] Heather Bedor: But I have to say, I don't know if you guys saw the an official announcement today, but my girl Amber Ardino just got cast as Celine Dion in Titanic.

[14:32] Zachary: Oh amazing.

[14:34] Johnny: I heard they were doing a changeover.

[14:37] Heather Bedor: I believe she starts March 23rd.

[14:39] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[14:40] Johnny: Congratulations.

[14:42] Zachary: Amazing.

[14:42] Johnny: Yeah, that's awesome news.

[14:44] Heather Bedor: We definitely need to go see it.

[14:45] Amber Brzezinski: I thought we saw it once and I'm hooked.

[14:48] Johnny: I like we were crying.

[14:50] Zachary: Yeah.

[14:51] Johnny: It was so funny.

[14:51] Amber Brzezinski: It was literally we want to take all of our friends who are like not theater people were like, okay, if you're not theater people, go see Titanic.

[14:59] Johnny: You will die.

[15:02] Zachary: Yeah.

[15:03] Johnny: If you go, you guys, you guys will know this, but if you go downstairs into like where you can draw the cat I'm talking about by the bar.

[15:11] Amber Brzezinski: Uh-huh.

[15:12] Johnny: You can draw a cat.

[15:13] Zachary: You'll see my Cheshire cat on the wall.

[15:16] Johnny: No way, really.

[15:17] Amber Brzezinski: Do what?

[15:19] Johnny: That's hilarious.

[15:21] Zachary: I drew a Cheshire cat and I put it up on the wall.

[15:23] Amber Brzezinski: Wait, does it have your name on it? Like, did you will we know that it's yours?

[15:26] Johnny: It has my name on it.

[15:27] Zachary: It should say Heather and then the Broadway Fan Club.

[15:29] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah.

[15:30] Johnny: That's awesome.

[15:32] Zachary: I love how you're always finding ways to just like put your stamp on things.

[15:36] Johnny: You're like, I was here.

[15:39] Heather Bedor: Well, yeah, I feel like I'm like graffitiing, but like in the classy way.

[15:43] Johnny: Yeah, of course.

[15:44] Zachary: I mean, they love it.

[15:46] Johnny: I'm gonna lick it. It's mine.

[15:47] Zachary: That's kind of how the and you could you could definitely I think anyone from that show would appreciate it.

[15:54] Johnny: So you're good.

[15:55] Zachary: Oh, right, absolutely.

[15:56] Johnny: What for me to lick them or for the maybe both?

[16:04] Zachary: That's the spectrum.

[16:06] Johnny: They're a very playful bunch.

[16:07] Zachary: They are very playful.

[16:09] Johnny: Oh that's true.

[16:10] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, yeah. When Celine came into our store, she was get like, I mean, it was just hilarious. She was just like talking to all the customers, and people had no idea who she was, and like they were just looking at her like, what's happening?

[16:24] Johnny: And she's like, It's me. Celine.

[16:25] Zachary: Yeah, no, and people are like, Oh, and just capturing the look of people's confusion was hysterical.

[16:33] Johnny: It was hysterical.

[16:34] Zachary: Yeah, oh my god. And then she like comes behind the counter and just like steals the whole plate of cookies.

[16:39] Johnny: It was so like a little like scooter she was like scooting away.

[16:44] Amber Brzezinski: Actually, I remember the video.

[16:45] Johnny: Okay, I remember the video now, yes, because she was like all over the place.

[16:48] Zachary: Yeah, it was just and plates.

[16:50] Johnny: I have to ask you guys about the social media that was Union Square. Was it yesterday or the day before? There was a guy that was like standing on top of a bicycle holding a tray of cookies.

[17:00] Zachary: Yeah, so crazy.

[17:02] Johnny: That was so cool. How did that even be?

[17:04] Zachary: That was really cool.

[17:05] Johnny: Yeah, he like reached out to us on Instagram and he was like, I want to do a video with you guys. And I saw his video, and you know, we were talking and we were like, this guy seems awesome. And you know, we are we're always trying to like branch out, right? Like, of course, Broadway is like our home, but it's super important for us now that we're expanding to kind of reach as many different people as possible because that's the joy about cookies and baked goods. It's like this is something for everyone to enjoy, and we want to kind of take it back to that feeling of when you were a kid and your mom or your grandma they were making homemade cookies in the kitchen, and you just couldn't wait to eat them.

[17:42] Johnny: And so, like, we always want to get that feeling from people.

[17:46] Zachary: Yeah.

[17:46] Johnny: And he's because we yeah, okay, sorry. He was just like such a unique person. And when we saw his other videos, we're like, uh, can we have you eat an ice cream sandwich on that bike? And he was like, absolutely. And it was like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. Anything for a cookie or an ice cream sandwich.

[18:03] Zachary: Seriously.

[18:05] Johnny: You're talking about like, you know, mom making something, you have like the giant Rice Krispie treats, like the cereal killer. Like, there's so many different things. And I I'm just who is it? Is it a team effort where someone's like, hey, I have an idea for a cookie? Or like Zach, is that all you Johnny? Are you like implementing like how is this on the back end happening?

[18:24] Zachary: I feel like, you know, um, originally I was just coming up with flavors faster than I even knew what was happening. And I'm like, I honestly, I I get inspired a lot by ice cream to be that's like probably where I get the most inspired is like I'll eat you know these ice cream flavors, and I'm like, Oh my god, this would make such a good cookie, and then uh I try to figure out like how can we do it? But you know, Johnny also like he always is trying to be like, Hey, why don't you try doing that? Because now that we're up over a hundred flavors, it's like getting more hard, it's getting harder, you know, and it's in with our competitors. It's like I don't want to, I don't want to bite off what other people are doing.

I like kind of want to go on our own path and you know, try to stand on our own. So we're always trying to figure out like how we can stay in our lane and do and do fun things, but like as we've been growing, you know, we've real like the big thing. I started Schmackary's, and it was always cookies were the thing, you know. That was always like what we leaned into, but now, as like we're 13 years strong, um, you know, it's really we're we're kind of rebranding ourselves because it's like really a bake shop, you know. It's like that old American bake shop where it's like we have amazing bars, amazing brownies, amazing crispy treats, and and cookies are like the thing that got us on the map. But you know, we we don't stop. We're like, we're gonna do high level ice cream. I uh did you get to try our infused ice cream when you were in Union Square?

[19:56] Johnny: No next level, but you know, we're just trying to like do all things where it's like we're not a bakery, we don't want to be considered a bakery, but like a bake shop, a treat shop, you know, something like that. And when you walk in, it's nostalgic with like I'm gonna hold this up for a second just so if anyone's not seen this amazing like logo, like the blue and white pinstripes, it's like so old school, like 1950s, 1960s, like pop shop or something like that.

[20:19] Zachary: And I love just the vibe, especially Union Square too, because it's more wide than it is deep.

[20:25] Johnny: Totally.

[20:26] Zachary: When you walk in, you're like, I feel like I'm in an old like ice cream parlor, and it's so yes, totally, yeah.

[20:31] Johnny: And and for me, you know, my favorite uh phrase, and Zach makes fun of me about it is like taking things a step further. You know, I'm like, let's take it a step further. Let's like, you know, I love this, but like let's elevate it.

[20:44] Zachary: Yeah, like go extra with it.

[20:45] Johnny: You have the room, exactly.

[20:47] Zachary: Exactly. And so we have a lot of fun coming up with new things together now. And you know, Zach obviously like really hit the nail on the head with all the flavors because I love all of our cookies, honestly. Like, I remember going to Schmackary's before I even knew Zach, and me and my friend drove in and we drove uh past it, and we were like, Oh, we've heard of these cookies, and we got a dozen cookies and wound up eating all of them in like three hours. Um, you know, I've I've always been a bit of a fan, but now that we're like really in this partnership, I'm like, okay, you know, I loved this Entenmann's cake as a kid. Like, how can we take this Entenmann's cake and turn it into something that's our cookie? Or, you know, um we've been toying around with a cannoli something. Only cannoli cookie cannoli. It's uh what are you doing today? You know, so we have a lot of fun, fun things that we do together.

[21:39] Zachary: Yeah, um like a Dubai chocolate cookie, like just lemon buy chocolate.

[21:46] Johnny: No, it's it's honestly something that it's like on my mind. And you know, when I tried to do buy chocolate, I like really wanted to love it, and I feel like it wasn't as good as I wanted to.

[22:02] Zachary: A chocolate like snob.

[22:04] Johnny: I we have a few ideas.

[22:08] Zachary: Okay, because Amber works across the street from this little coffee shop that did a Dubai chocolate like coffee, like a latte, and they did coffee.

[22:19] Johnny: They did like was it a strawberry cold foam on top?

[22:22] Zachary: Strawberry cold foam with it, and I'm like, that would be a good cookie. Like, I feel like there needs to be like a cookie committee that we can like help supplement and be like, because I'm sure our followers, like everybody is fans. Like when we started talking about you guys on the show, we're just like, they're gonna give away cookies, right? And we're like, no, but come join the show. Like, come on, like you're they're giving them, you know, giving their time. They don't need to give cookies or sweet enough, but um, you know, let us know if there's ever, like, if you guys want us to um host a contest for the next cookie, we're always happy to help me. I love opening up the doors to um, you know, to like letting our our fans decide what's what's next.

That's the I mean there's been some amazing fan suggestions over the years that have been like, you know, um not all of them have been great, but some of them have been a really great. Um and and I love when people like sometimes people will send an email and they're like, I would love if you put this type of cookie on the menu. And I'm like, hmm, and I always love being inspired. And honestly, some of our my favorite flavors that we've come out with have been something that somebody like challenged me with, and then it's like, ooh, okay, I could try that. And then all of a sudden it's like, let's see how far we can push it. You know, and um I think it's like we always want to stay true to like what the type of cookie that I have I've created. It's like that's like the style that I always want to stay true to that style. So it's like, how do we stay true with that and then go to different places with it?

[23:59] Johnny: Um yeah, exactly. So the Dubai chocolate is definitely on my mind. The real thing is like the crispies. I love that's my favorite part about it. It's like the kanafe part of it. Yes.

[24:10] Zachary: That it's like the kanafe with the pistachio, that I'm in love with. So that's like the the part of it that I'm like, I'm I'm inspired by that.

[24:19] Johnny: Yeah, if you guys eat one cookie for the rest of your lives, separate answer or the same, what would it be?

[24:25] Zachary: Look at that face. I told you I'm gonna ask you the hard hitting questions tonight.

[24:29] Johnny: This is something everyone.

[24:30] Zachary: Oh, that is so hard.

[24:31] Johnny: Yeah, that is really hard.

[24:34] Zachary: Okay, so uh I uh I hope none of the cookies get mad at me.

[24:40] Johnny: No, no, they're not listening.

[24:41] Zachary: And I'm gonna tell you nobody in the comment section or watching or listening. Don't tell the other ones.

[24:47] Johnny: Okay, okay.

[24:48] Zachary: And I don't know if this is only because it's on once a year, which it's on right now, but we have a cookie called the black and tan.

[24:56] Johnny: Really?

[24:57] Zachary: And there's something interesting about this cookie. It it has Guinness in it. It had it like, and the Guinness to me gives the texture not only to the cookie, but the frosting. This like it's a very interesting texture that I love. It's kind of fudgy, but not too much. It's almost like a brownie, but it's still a cookie.

[25:17] Johnny: Yeah, it's it's yeah, yeah.

[25:19] Zachary: It definitely hits it differently than you would expect. Like you're like deer in a cookie, but it like it actually like just gives a like a depth of the flavor.

[25:27] Johnny: Yeah, you know, I think it almost gives this like effervescence to the frosting.

[25:31] Zachary: Yeah, it's such a good cookie, and uh I you know it's on this month, and I I can't stop eating it, but I do have to say we do um schmacaroons, and I have really been in love with our schmacaroons for about a few months now, and uh yeah, it's between the black and tan and the schmacaroons because the coconut it really it's a good one.

[25:55] Johnny: Now, Jeff Cohen just asked, he said, Do you have to be over 21 to buy? And I said, No, the liquor bakes out of it.

[26:02] Zachary: Yes, you're definitely you are no, and I would love to see how many cookies you would eat before you get drunk.

[26:10] Johnny: Okay, like nine. We should have a content.

[26:12] Zachary: There should be a contest.

[26:16] Johnny: Yes, exactly.

[26:16] Johnny: I I infamously shouldn't shouldn't disclose my secrets, but I make a Guinness brownie and I top it with vegan.

[26:26] Zachary: Oh, that's I could see that being a gray pairing.

[26:28] Johnny: That's a good one.

[26:33] Zachary: And we have the chocolate, the maple chocolate chip.

[26:35] Johnny: Yeah, bacon chocolate chip.

[26:37] Zachary: Um, so for me, the cookie for that the cookie that is always like my favorite, and I will say it's my favorite, but it wouldn't be the one that I would eat forever.

[26:49] Johnny: Okay.

[26:49] Zachary: Um the sweet corn is my favorite. It's like I love it. It's like such a great balance of like sweet and salty, like the cranberries with the kernels of corn and the pecans, and like it just sings to me. It's like one that I'm I'm so proud of. It was the first gluten-free cookie I ever made, and I was like, this is it.

[27:11] Johnny: I'm an oatmeal cookie snot.

[27:14] Zachary: Like from the nth degree. Like, if I'm ever gonna go to another cookie shop and like, you know, everybody's like, oh, try somebody's chocolate chip cookie first. For me, it's an oatmeal cookie. I'm like, if you can do an oatmeal cookie well, like hats off to you.

[27:27] Johnny: That's always my standard.

[27:30] Zachary: And so the yeah, so with the oatmeal scotchy, is that what you said?

[27:35] Johnny: Yeah, so good.

[27:37] Zachary: That was my first cookie I ever made.

[27:39] Johnny: Um, but if I were to pick my favorite of all of my oatmeal cookies that I could eat over and over again, I think it might be the hangover.

[27:49] Johnny: Oh, I love it.

[27:52] Zachary: I like it's like that's like chip of the iceberg's like stepsister.

[27:56] Johnny: It is chip of the iceberg's stepsister.

[27:57] Zachary: It's like I love again salt and vinegar and potato chips. It like throws you for a win.

[28:00] Johnny: It throws you.

[28:03] Zachary: It's like, what is this? But it's just like it's so weird, and it works. It's like, and it has a lot of different textures in it, and there's like coconut and M&Ms and butterscotch, and just like, yeah, there's just like a lot going on in there, and like so.

[28:17] Johnny: I feel like, in terms of getting a little bit of variety, you know, then I'm like, okay, I could keep eating this every day because it's like you get a little something different in each bite.

[28:25] Zachary: That's that's something we didn't talk about. That's something that I really love that you guys have vegan and gluten-free options. Like that's so amazing.

[28:32] Johnny: People are always like we always sit on the bar at the you know 45th location. We're always hearing people being like, is there anything vegan?

[28:42] Johnny: And we're always like, Yes, there is, yeah, or like um on Saturday. Um, there were a couple of yeah, you guys are a hot spot for performers. I won't call out which performers were there, but I have been there when like Avenue Q was running at New World Stages and they were all there, and half of Moulin Rouge comes in for cookies, but we're sitting up against the middle bar, and everyone's like, Oh, the field of dreams. I don't know, what do you think? And I'm like, Do you want to try some of mine? It's what I'm eating right now.

[29:13] Johnny: I love um Lucy just said, I love your cookies, but I had your cinnamon roll for the first time on a recent trip, and it was incredible. So well, Lucy, uh, get ready because we we did something last year that we were just like, let's kind of like do something crazy. And we put a cookie, we put cookie dough in the middle of a cinnamon roll, and it was amazing. And we're like, let's do it for one month only, and we'll just do it, and we're gonna like, and we sold so many of them, and people were so mad when we took it off the menu. It's coming back next month.

[29:47] Zachary: Oh yeah, that's criminal, yeah.

[29:50] Johnny: Oh, criminal awesome. Like the chocolate chip. The I don't know, it changes the whole thing. Like, it's right, it's really pretty stellar. I the only thing that I've had that was like different, it wasn't at your store, it was at some place in Rock 30 Rock that doesn't do it anymore. So maybe steal this idea. Yes, so we uh we tried the cookie croissant and it it it didn't look nice. I agree, it looks weird, but it's like the croissant was pooping out cookies, it definitely looked like there was a little bit of uh yeah, indigestion there. It wasn't it wasn't quite working out, but um uh I mean when we did the the cinnamon roll, the cookie dough cinnamon roll, it was so good, and that was actually really not good for me because I was coming in in the morning and just like going crazy with it.

[30:42] Johnny: But you you can't like the chocolate chips and the cookie, everything it just works so well together. I mean, I had a schm'or's cookie this morning for breakfast. That's my OG. The the Schmores will always like take me back home.

[30:54] Zachary: Yeah, so that's not that like one last night, yeah. It's it's a good cookie, and Heather, there is no shame in eating cookies for breakfast. In fact, like I think that that is a breakfast of champions.

[31:05] Heather Bedor: Oh, I agree. I agree. I mean, I have no shame in that. I'm just like I did it. The boxes in the boxes say next to me is also the box from Union Square. Uh, because your cookies freeze so well, I just go in and I break up what I want, and it's oh that's yeah, no, that's awesome.

[31:22] Johnny: It's actually funny. I was talking to someone the other day, and they were like, Do you actually eat your cookies all the time? Like that you work in the store. And I'm like, Yeah, I eat probably one cookie a day, and he was like, That's a lot of cookies, and I'm like, Is it? Like, do you do you not know me? But also, you guys are like you're both in very good health, it's clearly working. Like cookies, like one it's like instead of an apple day, keep stocking.

[31:47] Zachary: I was gonna say, what's that old adage? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, a a cookie what there is there is one of those that it's like a cookie and yeah, a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

[31:59] Johnny: Yeah, and I think said that actually. I believe it. And honestly, like I come from a family where my grandmother would put eleven tablespoons of sugar in her frosted flakes cereal. So, like, I think we're past the sugar, you know, threshold of one cookie. It's in my blood. Um my grandmother used the no salt, salt and everything, and that was it.

[32:26] Zachary: Oh my gosh. She definitely wouldn't like our cookies because we put salt in the cookies.

[32:32] Johnny: Yeah. Oh my god. I love that. And I it's like you guys have really created like a such a beautiful culture in your stores too. Like, I've never come across somebody who was angry or wasn't happy to be working at Schmackeries.

[32:44] Johnny: Oh I mean that's yeah, the employees are all wonderful. You know, that was like something that was actually really important to me. Um when I first started Schmeckeries, and I was like, uh, you know, hey, what the hell am I doing? You know, starting a cookie shop in New York City. Um, but when I when I went to open up the store, I kind of was thinking, like, well, why now? Like, why does New York City need a another cookie shop or well, a cookie shop, but there weren't that many at that time, but um there were any other than Mrs. Fields, but but they but I was like, you know, why does New York City need this right now? And I was like, you know what? I was a person that when I first moved here from Nebraska, that I like hated living in New York when I first moved here, and it was like I just felt like it was such a cold and lonely place, and um, and I wish that I had like a place to go that felt like home and it felt like nurturing and comfortable, and that I felt safe, and that was the place that I wanted to create for people.

[33:45] Johnny: I was like, I want to create this haven for people who might not be from here or or are you know, like are from here and just like want a breath of fresh air and want to be seen and like want people to like feel like customer service was done, like when our grandparents were kids, and that that it was like, you know, where you walk in and it's like cheers, you know, that it's um I just wanted that that place, and that I I craved that place for myself, so I wanted to create a place that felt like a home away from home where everybody was welcome, everyone felt safe and seen, and that we just like meet you where you're at and um you know help make your day a little bit brighter, and that was just done that though, but you guys have done that, and it's been really and it's part of the the process when we interview people that were like, Hey, you know, this is this is what we're looking for.

We're trying to we want people who see this, and and it's usually the people that we hire are people who are those people who are like, I needed that in my life, and I'm like, get in here, because it's just you know, like the fun part too is like when we're finding our employees, I think we kind of have like switched around our verbiage now, where instead of saying what's customer service to you, we kind of pull up this Midwestern hospitality feel like what is Midwestern charm? What does Midwestern hospitality mean to you? And the second people hear that, they're like, Oh, you know, happy people. Like people from the Midwest are just always so happy, and we're like, Yeah, that's kind of like the piece, yeah, it's like that's the piece of our brand that we want people to kind of embody.

[35:17] Johnny: And when we have these, like, you know, interviews and people come in and they're like, just you could feel their energy. And then we talk to them about this midwestern feel. They're like, oh, that is like everything that I am, and that I feel that I can bring to this cookie shop. And it's so important for us because now that we're growing, you know, how do you keep that, right? Like, how do you make sure that every store that opens, people are hiring the same type of employees? Because we always say it's we have great products and we do, you know, really fun things, but at the end of the day, you know, it's the experience that keeps people coming back, and it's feeling good. And when people leave our store, we want them to just feel like, oh, I feel amazing just from that interaction.

And why are we hosting meetups there? Every time that Amber and I come into the city together, you guys have been so generous to let us host our meetups there because we want everybody to feel that way. And I can't wait to get outdoor seating back for you guys. So nice in the summertime. We have the cool heat fans, and those are great. But yes, we just gotta now we gotta like come together and tell the city to leave us alone and give us our tables back.

[36:26] Amber Brzezinski: Well, and you're talking about these locations, so I know obviously, like like the main one that I've been going to for forever um in the theater district, but then you also have Union Square, and then is it we're in Jersey? It's like northern Jersey, right?

[36:39] Johnny: Inglewood, New Jersey. So literally right over the bridge, yeah. Um, and then we have two more, um, Long Island, which I'm really excited about. I'm from Manhattan, I grew up in Chinatown, and my dad moved out to Long Island when I was six, so of course, everyone in my family has been asking, when are you bringing a shmakqueries to the island? When is the schmacker's coming out? And so when we had our franchisee Brenda come through, and she basically is our Long Island franchisee. She has all of the islands. She's gonna be opening up six stores from you know Queens to Suffolk County. It like made me so excited because I'm like, this was this is like what we've been waiting for. Um Long Island will be opening in May, and then um San Diego is slated to open between June and July, which is crazy because now we'll have schmackeries coast to coast.

[37:29] Zachary: Yeah, that's incredible. Now, the only thing I'm gonna complain about is I've been complaining and stating and demanding one in Orlando. It's gonna have to happen.

[37:38] Johnny: I mean, would love it. Let me tell you. If I had the money, I would open up a schmacks because we have, I mean, we have my dear friend Steve Lewis who owns Gideon's, and he's like blowing up, like there's still over an hour line at Disney Springs. I mean, I'm a big fan from afar. I like I like love the little cookies.

[37:58] Zachary: Have you never had his cookies?

[37:59] Johnny: I never have had their cookies.

[38:01] Zachary: Johnny, I will bring you a cookie. Next time seriously, um, I come up. I'm gonna let you guys know. I'll send send you what they have. I will the cookies weigh a pound each. But I will bring you that one. I got you. But um, yeah, it just I think it's important, like you guys really create like a culture, like a cookie culture instead of just being a for sure.

[38:24] Johnny: Yeah, like with no disrespect to like crumble or like any of the other, like, you know, we have all sorts of crazy ones here, but I think that you guys just you are vet sense of home, and for 13 years, I've been finding like my home in the theater district, and like it's just really kind of incredible to see the growth. And you know, I'm just uh when I say and you guys know this every episode we talk about. It's just there's true. We're super fans, but we also love you guys.

[38:52] Amber Brzezinski: All right. Well, now that I interrupted Broadway news, uh what other news do we have, Amber?

[39:00] Amber Brzezinski: Well, this one I'm going to talk about since it's my newest obsession from Saturday. Oh. We went and saw Maybe Happy Ending. Have you guys seen it yet? No, uh no. Go see it.

[39:15] Amber Brzezinski: How cool? Right away. Oh my god, it was incredible. Their cast album is coming out on the 14th of this month.

[39:27] Zachary: Okay.

[39:27] Amber Brzezinski: So I only thankfully I only have four days to wait before I can start listening to these songs on repeat. They've started to like put some, you know, like releases, some drops here and there. A couple of songs have dropped, but the full album comes out on the 14th. So I literally cannot contain my excitement for that um cast album.

[39:56] Zachary: I'm seeing like like some type of like huaboon matcha cookie or something. But they do have the fireflies, so maybe some like oh true. The fireflies, yes. We gotta see this show. I think we need to see it and get in get inspired.

[40:13] Amber Brzezinski: Yeah, it's it's a 90 minute show. It's technically built at 100 minutes, so there's no intermission.

[40:18] Zachary: Okay.

[40:19] Amber Brzezinski: It's really, I think it's it's a Korean show. It's beautiful. And Darren does it. Darren and how the whole cast. They do an incredible job. It's what a cast of four, right, Amber?

[40:29] Amber Brzezinski: Four. Yes.

[40:30] Zachary: Yeah.

[40:30] Amber Brzezinski: Four people. And I have not stopped thinking about them since we left the theater.

[40:35] Zachary: Why did not? I warned her she was gonna cry and she cried.

[40:39] Amber Brzezinski: I did. Um, let's see. What else is going on in the world of Broadway news?

[40:45] Amber Brzezinski: Oh, this was actually huge. The roundabout 2025-2026 season was announced. Um, which has the Rocky Horror show on it, directed by Dan from Oldbury. Like, what I cannot wait for the Rocky Horror show to come back to Broadway. I will be there. I will be there more often than I am at my home, probably.

[41:13] Zachary: I mean, it deserves it, it deserves a good revival.

[41:17] Amber Brzezinski: Uh-huh. Yeah, uh-huh. Absolutely. I think today, if I'm not mistaken, was also one of the anniversaries. Let me see what I can. I think it was yesterday. It was like 50th anniversary. Um, 50th anniversary celebrating it. Um, ahead of its New York celebrating its history ahead of the 2026 Broadway revival. So that will be very exciting to see what comes of that.

[41:42] Zachary: And the rumor mill is already turning with the cast, but I don't know if I believe the rumors that are coming out.

[41:49] Johnny: Oh, what are some of the rumors?

[41:51] Zachary: I just want to I love I love some rumors.

[41:55] Heather Bedor: Nope. You you brought it up. You yelled at me when I talked about it. I'll let you know as well.

[42:01] Johnny: Well, my good, my good friend, the sweaty oracle, has said on his socials that he has heard that it's going to be Timothy Chalamet.

[42:14] Zachary: What Frank Inferder?

[42:17] Johnny: What? I mean, there's more. Go on.

[42:21] Amber Brzezinski: And Amber says it so facetiously because she is just every time I send her something from the sweaty oracle, she's like, the perspiring prophet. Um, I call them the guys know him. He he's all in the rumor mill, and I'm like, I promise you this is gonna happen. She's like, no, I don't remember. I don't remember who else it was. Was it Sabrina? Sabrina Carpenter. Um, and also talking like Miley Cyrus.

[42:45] Zachary: Well, Miley, Miley, he's um projected to be going into cabaret, so we'll that's saying. I mean I want uh like I'm I'm wondering if it was are they thinking that Sabrina Carpenter would be Janet, or would she be um uh Columbia or Columbia?

[43:03] Johnny: I see Columbia. I guess she was Janet, but yeah, I would wonder who they would cast as Magenta.

[43:10] Zachary: I don't know, but yeah, also, uh, to interrupt for some cookie questions. Frances Brock says, Does Schmackary's still do late night cookie deals?

[43:19] Johnny: We do half an hour before closing, buy one, get one free.

[43:25] Zachary: I didn't get them this weekend. I tried, I was told there's no specials this weekend, really.

[43:31] Johnny: No, that's not true.

[43:33] Zachary: Were you there 30 minutes before?

[43:35] Johnny: 30 minutes before.

[43:38] Zachary: And I was told no, but that you don't do it anymore, and I was like, that's a lie, but that's okay. I'll support lies.

[43:44] Johnny: Who is it?

[43:44] Zachary: Who was it?

[43:45] Johnny: You tell us afterwards who it was, and they're on the chopping block.

[43:49] Zachary: Done. No, uh, did they have like 10 cookies left? Like, what's happening?

[43:52] Johnny: That's never been a thing. I'm like, I like Amber had just gone over to, uh, get to the train station. We had just gotten out of Redwood and staged touring Redwood.

[44:05] Zachary: Um, and then she went to the train station, and then I immediately went over to Schmack's. I'm like, oh, there's like 20 minutes before the store closes. And they were like, nope, sorry. And I was like, that's okay. I understand. And I was like, hmm, I'll see the boys on Monday.

[44:23] Johnny: You could just show them my number in your phone and be like, well, that's interesting because I have Johnny's number.

[44:28] Zachary: Um, I can ask.

[44:30] Johnny: Yeah, Dak and Johnny said.

[44:32] Zachary: Yeah, our employees love when they get that.

[44:35] Johnny: We really love so much.

[44:36] Zachary: So, like we definitely do. All and all locations do.

[44:39] Johnny: Yeah, um, that's our thing.

[44:42] Zachary: Which is amazing. So, Frances, that was really like that happened, but I think it was somebody new. But yes, every single time I've gone to Schmack's and it's late night, it's always one, uh, a new girl, two new people who work in the evening. It's not a big deal.

[44:58] Johnny: Okay, well, training opportunities. If it happened once, shamefully training up, it happens twice, you know.

[45:05] Zachary: Shame on you again. Um, and Amber, you're we always take the blame. Right?

[45:10] Amber Brzezinski: Right?

[45:11] Zachary: Amber said cabaret, and I don't know if anybody has been keeping up to date, but there is an announcement that just came out in the last 20 minutes that we've been on air. Does anyone know?

[45:23] Johnny: So you guys know who's going in for the new MC, right? Replacing Adam Lambert.

[45:28] Zachary: No.

[45:29] Johnny: So Orville Peck is taking over as a...

[45:29] Zachary: Yes, I didn't get to see that.

[45:34] Johnny: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[45:34] Zachary: But is he taking off the mask?

[45:37] Johnny: I don't know.

[45:37] Zachary: Let's look at the picture that was just released. Hold on a second. Um, let me see if I can pull this up.

[45:44] Johnny: I think he has the mask on.

[45:45] Zachary: Really?

[45:45] Johnny: I don't know. Well, here, let's take a poll before I post it and before anyone ruins it in the post. Um, I have been saying he's gonna keep the mask on.

[45:56] Amber Brzezinski: I think mask.

[45:59] Zachary: I think he's gonna go mask off. I think he's gonna be like, This is my time. I don't think Cabaret's hiding. I want to know what he's hiding under there.

[46:07] Johnny: Here's your answer. Are you guys ready? Should we drum a little?

[46:14] Zachary: Ta-da! He's gonna have a mask. It's like a Zorro mask.

[46:18] Johnny: Wow.

[46:18] Zachary: But that's not even like his normal mask.

[46:21] Johnny: I mean, baby steps, baby steps.

[46:23] Zachary: I know. Look at that. Just look at that face. Like, my God.

[46:28] Johnny: We did have some of our members. Maybe we had some of our members discuss the possibility of because have you guys used to have you seen this revival of Cabaret yet?

[46:42] Zachary: No.

[46:42] Johnny: Well, the MC goes through his big thing.

[46:45] Zachary: That's true. You're always making cookies.

[46:46] Johnny: Um, the MC goes through a transformation where he starts in, you know, like the clown kind of costume, and then by the end he, um, has this transformation into like a very clean cut suit representing the conformity of the Nazi regime.

[47:06] Zachary: Okay.

[47:07] Johnny: So people are saying, speculating that maybe as the transition occurs, the mask might come off.

[47:13] Zachary: Or it's gonna change. My thought process was that he'll start off with that heavy one because this is the traditional, this is like the beginning MC outfit. He has like it's like the opening number outfit.

[47:27] Johnny: Um, my thought process is that maybe they'll start going to like a lace or like a nude lace that it'll start to transition lighter.

[47:37] Zachary: Right. But he looked, let me say he looks incredible as the MC. And we've got a lot of Lambert's that are like, or Glambert's that are like, well, I'm making him flash unintentionally, but they're like, oh no, no one's gonna beat Adam. I was like, I think Orville's gonna bring more people than Adam did. I really do. He has such a great following, and I'm very excited to see him live because I love his voice.

[47:56] Johnny: And him paired with Evan Nélzada, are you kidding? Like, it's gonna be crazy.

[48:02] Zachary: So yeah. All right. I will take Orville down and share that I mean we don't mind if you leave him out.

[48:11] Johnny: Right.

[48:12] Zachary: Right. And no, but Johnny had a point, Zach. You really just put the mask on, flip the hair over, and you just look just like...

[48:14] Johnny: Maybe, maybe, um, he could be, you know, this could be an episode of my double life, you know, and it finally comes clean.

[48:28] Zachary: I'll take it. Now one of my friends here in Orlando just posted, um, Christopher Levy, sorry to be late, first day of tech. Question one is there going to be a specialty Tony Awards cookie available for shipment?

[48:39] Johnny: We are coming in a tiny season. I love when people plant the seeds because you never know. Um, yeah, and I love doing special cookies that like we all like we do for nationwide. Um, I think that's that like really gets me excited because I love that we could bring a piece of Broadway to people's homes all over the country.

[48:59] Zachary: Absolutely. So, you know, we should do a little of like Tony's, uh, viewing cooking. We've also, yeah, we also still have not been able to do Broadway Bakes since the pandemic. And like we've been the because it's been really tough, like getting like Johnny was saying before, getting people to come in, um, to the store and wanting, you know, so there's, you know, we're still planting the seeds that Broadway Bakes could happen this year.

[49:25] Johnny: Do you want to share with people that might not be aware of what Broadway Bakes is? Do you want to give them the rundown?

[49:30] Zachary: Absolutely. So, um, in 2013, I think, uh, I started, um, a little charity event that was called Broadway Bakes that was a week-long event that, uh, basically we had Broadway stars come and work behind the counter and sell cookies to raise money for BCEFA, Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, one of our favorites, and, um, the first year we did it, we raised like $15,000, and it was amazing. And then we just kept, we started making it a yearly thing, and, um, and it was unreal. We had like crazy celebrities working behind our counter. We had Audra McDonald and Sara Bareilles and Gavin...

[50:10] Johnny: What I was in pulling up pictures, don't you worry?

[50:18] Zachary: Yeah, um, I mean we had so many people, and it was literally the first time that we did it. I was literally asking people on Twitter back when Twitter was like how like everybody each other. It was like I was just asking people, I'm like, hey, do you want to come do Broadway Bakes at our shop? And people were like, absolutely, and I'm like, okay. Um, we would love to bring it back again.

[50:44] Johnny: Um, so we'll see. We'll see. If it worked out, it works out. But, um, you know, we're trying. We're trying. I'm trying to pull up all the pictures here. This is the fifth annual, so 2012 is when you started because 2017, it shows it.

[50:58] Zachary: Um, here we go. So here's Gavin 20 2017.

[51:03] Johnny: I know that that hit everyone hard last year.

[51:08] Zachary: Yeah. Um, and I also love it, they do not smell Schmackary's right. They smelled it with an E R Y as okay.

[51:17] Johnny: It's either the spelling or when or when people call us, uh, Smackeries.

[51:21] Zachary: That's oh, that's happened before too. And like I even correct Amber when she calls it a s'mores cookie, and I'm like, no, stay right.

[51:28] Johnny: She's like, shmores.

[51:30] Zachary: I actually have, I cannot say s'mores anymore. I can't, I always like even all of our friends are like, oh my god, we'll make s'mores. And I'm like, shmores. I just doesn't feel right. I've convinced myself that it's just shmores permanently.

[51:45] Johnny: Right. Yes, it is.

[51:46] Zachary: No, but it is. Um, and Christopher Levy also said for operation minced meat, how about an oatmeal current gingerbread thing?

[51:54] Johnny: Like a mince pie cookie.

[51:56] Zachary: So, oh, oatmeal current gingerbread. I mean, I could see those things marrying well.

[52:03] Johnny: Yeah, yeah.

[52:04] Zachary: I'm into it. There's a thing that happens. Christopher had also left a comment when we had posed a promo about the show asking if you guys were ever gonna bring back the blueberry strush geek from circa 2013, I think they mentioned.

[52:20] Johnny: Yeah, we had a, um, blueberry cobbler.

[52:23] Zachary: Yeah, it's, I think it comes out in June.

[52:25] Johnny: Yeah, June. I think that's when it's slated to come back out.

[52:29] Zachary: And it's actually one of my, uh, favorite cookies to put inside our ice cream, uh, like ice cream infusion. So basically, we started something, uh, two years ago where we make our own soft serve with a machine that basically pulverizes our cookies.

[52:45] Johnny: So any cookie flavor that we have on for the day, you can actually turn it into an ice cream. And you know, between the blueberry cobbler, actually the sweet corn is another one that is so, oh my gosh, so interesting. Um, and for us it's like the texture, you know. We're creating this really cool texture with the ice cream and the cookie, and you just get these like pieces of cookie chunks, and it's really delicious.

[53:07] Zachary: But blueberry cobbler is one of the faves of it one though. And it's weird because calvating, it's weird because the texture of the ice cream, it's like, it like, it's not like a blizzard, it actually like infuses the flavor, and so it's like, it almost has like the texture of cement, but in a good way.

[53:25] Johnny: It's like, yeah, no, it's just smooth, it's like gritty, like it has like the grit of the cookie, but I mean like the flavor is purely the flavor of the cookie. It's so crazy.

[53:34] Zachary: But yeah, so it looks so good, right?

[53:38] Johnny: That's the, uh, I can, I yes, I just want everything now.

[53:41] Zachary: Okay. I know now I'm like, I want ice cream.

[53:46] Johnny: Um, let's see, I'm gonna look through my, okay here. Yes, okay, going back into the Tony calendar. But dang, the blueberry cookie was the best one ever on my first chip schmack.

[53:56] Zachary: Oh, it comes, yeah.

[53:58] Johnny: So I'm wondering if they maybe mentioned there's, so we did a cookie that was for Waitress the Musical, which was like the blueberry bacon cookie.

[54:06] Zachary: Oh, yeah.

[54:07] Johnny: I don't know if she'll be coming back. Uh, it was that maybe on the fringe of like a little too weird that it worked when Waitress was not like, uh, the Thai peanut cookie. That one next to the graveyard.

[54:20] Zachary: I don't know. I got that one.

[54:21] Johnny: You did?

[54:22] Zachary: I did. That was a weird one. Um, and then was it the jalapeno cowboy or the one that's a corny cowboy?

[54:30] Johnny: Yeah.

[54:30] Zachary: Yeah, he comes back though. But I, I would say that comes back like once every two years.

[54:35] Johnny: Yeah. And schmackeroni and cheese or schmack and cheese.

[54:38] Zachary: I actually really love that cookie. It's such a weird one. But it's, but it's so good.

[54:43] Johnny: Yeah, it's great. Especially when you get a noodle, you're like, what the hell is going on here? But it's so good.

[54:49] Zachary: But that's actually where we get the Midwestern like comfort food is you're getting another.

[54:54] Johnny: Yeah. So we're actually working on, um, a Schmackary's app right now. And, um, and part of the app that we're really excited about is we want to get a cookie passport that you're able to like mark off all the cookies that you've tried. And so that you're like, so you're like, have I tried them all? And it's like now you can like mark off all of the cookies that you've tried.

[55:16] Johnny: I love that. And a potential subscription, um, you know, for all of our cookie lovers who want to get just like a box of all different flavors every month.

[55:24] Zachary: Yeah, um, the cookie of the month club. So we're really excited to start launching some new things, uh, you know, within the next six months.

[55:30] Johnny: And you guys just did the fudge cookie, right?

[55:33] Zachary: Oh yeah, yeah. The fudge, which is gluten-free and vegan. And this is our first cookie that is gluten-free, vegan, has no nuts in it, and so it really is that cookie that like anyone can have. And we're, we love it because again, we've gotten a lot of people who have wanted, you know, a gluten-free vegan cookie. Um, and then, you know, we'll have nuts in there. And so this was like a really fun opportunity for you to stretch your muscle.

[56:01] Johnny: You know, you mentioned the gluten-free cookies earlier, and I think one thing that's always been super, um, important to me when I came out with like anything that was a dietary restriction, uh, cookie, is that I'm like, listen, if it's gonna take stock on the counter, like I don't want anybody who's not gluten-free or vegan to be able to enjoy it too. Like everybody should be able to enjoy it.

[56:24] Zachary: So all of our gluten-free and vegan flavors, like I won't put them on the counter if it's like, oh, it's good for gluten-free. I'm like, oh no, no, no, no. No, it needs to be like a solid cookie. And I mean, some of my favorite cookies are our gluten-free and vegan cookies. Like you said, the Earl of Chocolate, I love that code hummingbird so, so much.

[56:44] Johnny: Earl of Chocolate was like, she was my jam for like a good four or five months. Like I love gluten. Like I, I'm like, I'm not a vegan, but like your gluten or your vegan, like the gluten-free and the vegan, like you can't tell because usually a lot of baked goods, they're like gummy or they have a weird mouth.

[57:06] Zachary: There's nothing. Oh my God, we haven't even given any love to Monkey Business. That's another new...

[57:09] Johnny: I honestly think Monkey Business is like... I can't believe I said Monkey Business. I said Black and Tan over Monkey Business because that cookie is by far like blown me away.

[57:24] Zachary: I love that cookie so much. And our joke, but our dough makers hate us for that. It's uh it's like banana chocolate chip banana bread. Right. Yeah. It's the texture of it is incredible. When in our uh in our commissary where we make it, if you uh go down there on the days that they're making monkey business, the entire commissary smells like bananas.

[57:46] Johnny: Yeah. Because they have to like cook the, you know, we have to brown the bananas, so we brown them in the oven. And it's like the smell of just like the bananas browning and cooking, it's like you walk in there and you just get like smacked in the face.

[57:56] Zachary: So it's like donkey cooking. Put in a good way. There's no cake shooting on the show. Uh I will say that any anytime you guys want to open up a commissary tour for uh Amber and I to get some uh footage, we'd be happy to join.

[58:12] Johnny: Hey, we can make that happen. We love a behind the scenes. Uh I mean that was the fun thing about Book of Mormon. They like wanted to see every part of the store. They were like, Can we come down to the commissary? And I was like, Do you want to?

[58:24] Zachary: And like, and PJ was obsessed. He was like, he was like a kid in a candy store. I mean, well, you know, a kid in a cookie store. He was yeah, he was like so excited about everything and and all of our um operations. He was just like, Wow, I cannot believe this.

[58:41] Johnny: And we call the commissary the soul of schmackeries because that's where the cookies are born. Um and so he was like, I'm in the soul. This is the soul.

[58:49] Zachary: Like and I remember when we love PJ too. PJ a few years ago, like lovely. Back when um Matilda was on Broadway, that we were doing a partnership with them, and they begged us, they were like, Can we please send the Matildas to come do a baking class with you?

[59:05] Johnny: And so I like took them the three Matildas, and we would did a baking uh lesson downstairs and the commissary was really cute. I mean, I'm gonna tell you how but how many people like obviously this is not happening, so don't I bring it their hopes up, but like I would 100% sign up for like a baking class at Schmacker's, and I love baking and I have baked for a very long period of time, but like that just I love that you guys are so open to the community and they see that.

[59:31] Zachary: I think that's really important. I mean, community has always been like at the center of everything that we do, and it will continue to be one of the things as we grow. Like, we we want to be part of the community wherever we are.

[59:42] Johnny: Right, and that's now it's not like you guys have a ton of spare time. I know this. However, if you had fun with the Book of Mormon cast, they're on Cody Strand's Instagram right now. They're doing a traitors, they're doing their own version of Traitors.

[1:00:00] Zachary: It is fun.

[1:00:03] Johnny: They're like five episodes deep.

[1:00:05] Zachary: I am we are obsessed with the traitors. I actually still have to finish the reunion. I fell asleep.

[1:00:10] Johnny: It is it is the most fun. PJ, let me tell you, PJ is a master of chaos.

[1:00:18] Zachary: Oh, of course.

[1:00:19] Johnny: Of course he is.

[1:00:20] Zachary: Like you will.

[1:00:22] Johnny: I that's what I did on the train yesterday on coming or on Saturday coming home from was I watched uh traitors until I fell asleep.

[1:00:30] Zachary: I'm living for this.

[1:00:32] Johnny: Yeah, we're definitely checking.

[1:00:33] Zachary: Yeah, we definitely can watch Traders is if I visit Amber, Connecticut.

[1:00:41] Johnny: All right, so basically we I your number one super fan here.

[1:00:44] Zachary: He wants it on it. I love him for it.

[1:00:45] Johnny: Um we talk Shabacqueries all the time.

[1:00:48] Zachary: Um, another question because some cookies are only available certain days. Can we put together an order that covers two days? I'm looking to order monkey business and hummingbird in the same box.

[1:00:59] Johnny: Yeah, I mean, you know, we the the hard part of always trying to accommodate everyone is that we have our cookies on, you know, for these specific days. Um yeah, I think if you know, if honestly, if there's ever a cookie combination that you're like, I really want this cookie combination, and if you're like, I can wait a day or something.

[1:01:20] Zachary: Um, if you ever just like call our store or shoot us a message or something like that and say, like, hey, I want to do a box, but like these are the cookies I want in the box. If it's not if it's not impossible.

[1:01:31] Johnny: You guys will make me just the whole day or live chocolate and I can sit there and just gain 500 pounds.

[1:01:35] Zachary: Listen, if it's on the menu, if it's on the rotation, we can make it happen. You know, like if it's not on the menu for the month, then you definitely have to wait.

[1:01:45] Johnny: You might have to wait if it is on the menu, but you'll definitely have to wait if it's not.

[1:01:50] Zachary: But we'll try. If we can do it, we will try it.

[1:01:53] Johnny: Fair enough.

[1:01:54] Zachary: All right.

[1:01:55] Johnny: I have one.

[1:01:55] Zachary: I have one iteration of my question that I always ask.

[1:01:59] Johnny: It throws everybody off.

[1:01:59] Zachary: So generally I ask, what is one question? And I'm gonna ask both. What is one question you guys have always wanted to be asked? Whether it's about yourselves, your relationship, schmackeries, anything coming up that no one's ever asked you before, and what's the answer?

[1:02:13] Johnny: That's number one.

[1:02:17] Zachary: And silence.

[1:02:20] Johnny: What's the one question?

[1:02:22] Zachary: Repeat the question.

[1:02:24] Johnny: Yeah. So is there a question that you guys have always been like, man, I wish somebody would ask us about blank so we could tell them about blank, but no one's ever really asked you about it.

[1:02:35] Zachary: Like how you met, or you know, we got the history of schmacks, but like what like you're supposed to like something that no one's ever asked you about anything like that before.

[1:02:45] Johnny: Oh my gosh, that's a hard that is a hard question.

[1:02:48] Zachary: I told you I'm gonna ask the hard heading ones.

[1:02:51] Johnny: Um my gosh.

[1:02:58] Zachary: Um my gosh, yeah, I can't actually think of it.

[1:03:04] Johnny: Text me about it later.

[1:03:06] Zachary: Okay, I'm gonna yeah, I'd have to sit on it because that's a hard one for me.

[1:03:08] Johnny: Cause I love I'm like such an open book.

[1:03:10] Zachary: So I'm like, what?

[1:03:12] Johnny: Um, okay, you have one.

[1:03:14] Zachary: I guess one would be where in the world would you love to put a schmackeries?

[1:03:20] Johnny: Like you could go anywhere in the world. Where would you love to put a schmackeries?

[1:03:24] Zachary: Go on.

[1:03:26] Johnny: And I think I would say Bangkok, Thailand.

[1:03:32] Zachary: Cool.

[1:03:33] Johnny: Love that.

[1:03:35] Zachary: When we were there, uh Johnny and I were there. That's actually like where we got engaged in twelve right before the pandemic in 2020.

[1:03:42] Johnny: I mean, technically during while it was taking place.

[1:03:46] Zachary: Um, but uh we went to Bangkok and we were both like, oh my gosh, this is so awesome! And they have so many like American brands there, and it was interesting.

[1:03:55] Johnny: I was like, it'd be so cool to have a schmackeries here.

[1:03:58] Zachary: Like, what a what an interesting thing, like to make it all the way over to the other side of the world and just like, you know, yeah, and then have a reason to go there.

[1:04:06] Johnny: Are you gonna put one in Nebraska?

[1:04:08] Zachary: Because that's like really where you can.

[1:04:10] Johnny: I mean, it's gonna happen.

[1:04:11] Zachary: It's gonna happen at some point.

[1:04:13] Johnny: It has to, yeah.

[1:04:14] Zachary: Yeah, I agree.

[1:04:15] Johnny: I mean, it's again, Orlando, Chris Levy says Winter Park, which is 15 minutes from me, so I'm okay with that too.

[1:04:21] Zachary: So we need to go and find an investor that will franchise out, or if somebody can probably donate money to me to open up the location I'd be.

[1:04:29] Johnny: Send them to us.

[1:04:30] Zachary: You send us those Orlando Orlando people, we will make it happen.

[1:04:34] Johnny: Exactly.

[1:04:35] Zachary: We need it here.

[1:04:35] Johnny: We need that sense of community here.

[1:04:37] Zachary: I think more of it ever.

[1:04:39] Johnny: Um I just it's it's so important.

[1:04:41] Zachary: And like, I I know we've gone over time. I just um I will you know, gloat in the best way possible about you guys.

[1:04:46] Johnny: Like you have done so much with me.

[1:04:48] Zachary: You've been featured on like only murders in the building.

[1:04:51] Johnny: Like you're all over the place.

[1:04:52] Zachary: Everybody knows Schmacks.

[1:04:54] Johnny: Everybody, if they don't have the opportunity to know you guys directly, they've probably seen you running around the store.

[1:04:59] Zachary: I think the first time I ever met you both was, and I you'll not remember this, but it was like three or four years ago, changing fall into Halloween decorations or Halloween decorations and default decorations outside the store.

[1:05:13] Johnny: And I was like, No, and then we just started talking, and I was like, Oh my god, yes.

[1:05:19] Zachary: I remember we were putting yes, we were taking down the um the spider web spider web and putting up the leaves.

[1:05:25] Johnny: Yeah, and Zach was on the ladder.

[1:05:27] Zachary: Yep.

[1:05:27] Johnny: And I was like, please don't die.

[1:05:29] Zachary: We need you.

[1:05:29] Johnny: Yeah.

[1:05:31] Zachary: I remember that.

[1:05:32] Johnny: Yep, I remember.

[1:05:33] Zachary: I have it so funny.

[1:05:35] Johnny: But like you guys have done so much for the community, and you you guys treat even even the tourists that come in, like they feel that sense of community.

[1:05:44] Zachary: And I can't begin to tell you when we were sitting on our meetup Saturday. There was a young girl.

[1:05:48] Johnny: So funny.

[1:05:51] Zachary: Oh my god, they were like, Oh, we're gonna get a dozen.

[1:05:54] Johnny: And I was like, Oh, yeah, absolutely. Like, get a dozen.

[1:05:57] Zachary: No, they were like, Oh, we got it, we got six of them yesterday.

[1:06:02] Johnny: Yeah, we're back to get a dozen today.

[1:06:05] Zachary: Good.

[1:06:06] Johnny: Good.

[1:06:07] Zachary: Yeah, I said they freeze really well. Take them home. Put them in a Ziploc bag.

[1:06:11] Johnny: She goes, You think they'll make it to the freezer?

[1:06:17] Zachary: That's the true test.

[1:06:19] Johnny: Fantastic.

[1:06:19] Zachary: But you guys have to send so much, and and everybody really does feel the warmth that you guys create, besides from the oven.

[1:06:26] Johnny: Like they see it, we feel it.

[1:06:28] Zachary: You guys are just so open and generous, and you know, if people are in the store and you guys see Zach or Johnny, please introduce yourself, say hi.

[1:06:36] Johnny: Don't be an asshole because you're left as I'm gonna be level.

[1:06:39] Zachary: Always.

[1:06:40] Johnny: And our employees are, you know, I have to say, I have to really do give a shout out to everyone that works in our store.

[1:06:45] Zachary: Like, I have so much love for our employees.

[1:06:50] Johnny: And I mean, every person in that store is such a beautiful soul, and I like can't imagine Schmackeries being what it is without the team that we have, especially right now.

[1:07:01] Zachary: Like, we have had all of our employees that work with us for years, and like working in the restaurant industry, you don't get that.

[1:07:09] Johnny: Yeah, and then I I it's just like amazing to watch everyone grow and that everyone still chooses to work at that store.

[1:07:17] Zachary: I um guys it really like I can't be more proud of like what we have right now, and um, and the goal is just to be able to recreate this over and over and over again and find franchisees that get our vision and that align with us.

[1:07:35] Johnny: They don't be they don't have to be the same as us, but that they just get it.

[1:07:38] Zachary: There's that click, and we have that with a lot of the people that have invested in schmackeries, and I can't wait till that just keeps growing.

[1:07:44] Johnny: Yeah, absolutely.

[1:07:46] Zachary: It really is inspiring for us as well, you know, and um just to have seen people's journeys of you know, working for us and see how much they grow in in that, and like we do want to be that place that like we we're helping people provide for their families as well, right?

[1:08:03] Johnny: Yeah, and it's incredible, and I I really mean like when I walk in the store, it's about once every six weeks or so, like not once, but like four days in a row every six weeks or so.

[1:08:13] Zachary: Um, and Logan's there, like already knows my order, everything's done, and I'm like, how do you remember?

[1:08:18] Johnny: Oh, I just saw you a couple weeks, and I'm like, am I'm like that predictable?

[1:08:21] Zachary: But yes, I'm very predictable and it's delicious um but yeah it's true, but we love you guys.

[1:08:27] Johnny: Um, so I just posted up the website, I'm gonna share it again www dot s cm a c ar y s dot com go there if you if you want to invest and be a franchise owner there's information there too you can see the cookie rotation you can get kind of the backstory about everything um you can order anywhere in the continental US right yeah yeah even Hawaii oh and Hawaii fancy like aloha uh but also if you have like a favorite show of it you really are like oh my god I love the cast of gypsy I would love to be able to send them some cookies you can also do that and that's really cool and you're supporting a locally owned and operated business right in the heart of Times Square right in the theater district and all of the other locations so it's so important guys thank you for letting us take up all of your time tonight um I think thank you guys for being here yeah you're welcome back anytime you make your lives so much sweeter um truthfully and I will be stopping in for the tricelay chase cake the cinnamon roll um what else did did I add on ice cream ice cream yeah we got yeah we got a whole we gotta get you caught up we got you yeah oh yeah we're more than cooking we'll have a whole tasting day

[1:08:27] Amber Brzezinski: I was gonna say it's like a 10 course meal yeah done I like people do like Olive Garden has like the taste of Italy I'm doing the taste of smackery I think we should do that.

[1:09:59] Johnny: I think that should be a nice I think that'd be great.

[1:10:02] Zachary: Or on your passport on the app that's gonna come out, which you guys will let us know, ASAP when it comes out.

[1:10:07] Johnny: But you can also do like choose a cookie, choose a pastry, choose a drink.

[1:10:13] Zachary: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1:10:14] Johnny: I love it.

[1:10:14] Zachary: You know, we we're full of these random ideas that I know you guys already have very much in your heads.

[1:10:19] Johnny: So we always we welcome more.

[1:10:23] Zachary: We love it.

[1:10:25] Johnny: But thank you guys so much.

[1:10:26] Amber Brzezinski: Thank you for everybody who's joined us tonight.

[1:10:26] Zachary: Um, thank you for staying a little bit longer on a Monday night, but it's a sweet way to start the week.

[1:10:31] Johnny: And it is I'm so glad that we could get this rocking and rolling.

[1:10:34] Zachary: Boys, we'll see you very soon.

[1:10:39] Johnny: Yeah, I'm gonna go back to the week.

[1:10:40] Zachary: Yeah, go find them.

[1:10:40] Amber Brzezinski: Go visit the the theater district, go go just support local in general, but go find Zach and Johnny and go tell them how much they're incredible and buy all of the cookies.

[1:10:49] Zachary: And it's okay if you already bought half a dozen, you can still buy a dozen.

[1:10:55] Johnny: So yeah, we've been there before.

[1:10:55] Zachary: We don't even we don't want to know how many cookies we we throughout the week.

[1:10:59] Johnny: Well, you could say one cookie a day, but I have a feeling it could be more at times, but that's okay.

[1:11:06] Zachary: Today it was definitely more.

[1:11:08] Johnny: It was Monday.

[1:11:10] Zachary: How else you got to do the Mondays?

[1:11:12] Johnny: Yeah, the the moody Mondays.

[1:11:12] Zachary: I'm about to have cookies for dinner, so yeah.

[1:11:15] Johnny: I'm gonna I'm gonna decross some of my frozen cookies.

[1:11:21] Zachary: Well, I can't thank you enough.

[1:11:22] Johnny: This was awesome.

[1:11:24] Zachary: Yeah, it's great spending our Monday with you.

[1:11:25] Johnny: Uh same here.

[1:11:27] Zachary: Uh, such such delight.

[1:11:27] Johnny: I want to come and hug you both around the neck, but I'll come find you guys soon.

[1:11:30] Zachary: Thank you guys.

[1:11:36] Johnny: Have a good night.

[1:11:35] Amber Brzezinski: Thanks, everybody.

[1:11:36] Johnny: Have a good night, everyone.

[1:11:39] Zachary: Bye.

[1:11:39] Johnny: Take care.

[1:11:39] Amber Brzezinski: Bye.

[1:11:39] Zachary: Bye, everyone.