1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:02,167 Lemonis: Tonight on "The Profit"... 2 00:00:02,203 --> 00:00:03,635 You ever had shaved cream? 3 00:00:03,671 --> 00:00:06,005 A young entrepreneur dreamed up a fresh take 4 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,207 on an Asian-inspired dessert. 5 00:00:08,242 --> 00:00:10,376 Tony: It's a very unique flavor. Lemonis: It's really good. 6 00:00:10,411 --> 00:00:13,846 Eventually bringing it to four shops across New York City. 7 00:00:13,881 --> 00:00:16,849 East Village did $329,000, 8 00:00:16,884 --> 00:00:19,551 down from $600,000 the year before that. 9 00:00:19,587 --> 00:00:21,420 It's down almost 50%. 10 00:00:21,455 --> 00:00:25,024 But four years in, Snowdays is melting. 11 00:00:25,059 --> 00:00:27,860 Owner Tony Quach grew his business so fast, 12 00:00:27,895 --> 00:00:30,329 he failed to figure out the fundamentals. 13 00:00:30,364 --> 00:00:31,930 So, the mold's plastic. 14 00:00:31,966 --> 00:00:33,365 Tony: Mold's plastic. Michael: You can't do that. 15 00:00:33,401 --> 00:00:35,167 With the new FDA laws, you'd have to test 16 00:00:35,202 --> 00:00:37,002 that those chemicals aren't breaking down the plastic, 17 00:00:37,038 --> 00:00:38,437 which they probably are. 18 00:00:38,472 --> 00:00:40,939 Lemonis: Now he's letting down his customers... 19 00:00:40,975 --> 00:00:43,075 Carolyn: There would be like five flavors out. 20 00:00:43,110 --> 00:00:44,610 Lemonis: That'd be like going to Baskin Robbins 21 00:00:44,645 --> 00:00:46,311 or 31 Flavors and them saying, 22 00:00:46,347 --> 00:00:47,646 "Sorry, we only have 20." 23 00:00:47,681 --> 00:00:49,681 ...he's letting down his employees... 24 00:00:49,717 --> 00:00:51,950 Ovie: It'd be nice if my own opinion mattered. 25 00:00:51,986 --> 00:00:53,852 Lemonis: It'll be a giant [bleep]show 26 00:00:53,888 --> 00:00:55,754 unless you guys are on the same page. 27 00:00:55,790 --> 00:00:57,523 ...and with a new baby at home, 28 00:00:57,558 --> 00:00:59,792 he feels like he's letting down his family. 29 00:00:59,827 --> 00:01:02,294 Tony: My wife, Steph, is an absolutely trouper. 30 00:01:02,329 --> 00:01:05,631 She's so understanding, but I know she deserves so much more. 31 00:01:05,666 --> 00:01:07,900 Lemonis: If I can't help him see what he's done wrong... 32 00:01:07,935 --> 00:01:10,302 Tony: I guess I just had visions of grandeur. 33 00:01:10,337 --> 00:01:11,703 Lemonis: ...and where he needs to go next... 34 00:01:11,739 --> 00:01:13,705 I want to literally start new. 35 00:01:13,741 --> 00:01:15,941 ...this business will evaporate. 36 00:01:15,976 --> 00:01:18,310 Tony: This is a little -- can we get off camera for this? 37 00:01:18,345 --> 00:01:21,313 This is, like, crazy. 38 00:01:21,348 --> 00:01:23,248 Lemonis: My name is Marcus Lemonis, 39 00:01:23,284 --> 00:01:27,086 and I risk my own money to save struggling businesses. 40 00:01:27,121 --> 00:01:28,454 We're not going to wake up every morning 41 00:01:28,489 --> 00:01:29,988 wondering if we have a job. 42 00:01:30,024 --> 00:01:31,457 We're going to wake up every morning 43 00:01:31,492 --> 00:01:33,292 wondering how many jobs we have to do. 44 00:01:33,327 --> 00:01:35,227 It's not always pretty. 45 00:01:35,262 --> 00:01:37,729 Everything's going to change. Everything. 46 00:01:37,765 --> 00:01:41,633 But I do it to save jobs, and I do it to make money. 47 00:01:41,669 --> 00:01:42,968 This... Let's go to work. 48 00:01:43,003 --> 00:01:44,570 ...is "The Profit." 49 00:01:44,605 --> 00:01:54,513 ♪♪ 50 00:01:54,548 --> 00:01:57,583 The dessert market is one of the most cut-throat markets 51 00:01:57,618 --> 00:01:59,651 in all of the food industry. 52 00:01:59,687 --> 00:02:02,754 What I like most about Snowdays and its shaved cream 53 00:02:02,790 --> 00:02:04,256 is that it's unique, 54 00:02:04,291 --> 00:02:07,526 and I've never seen anything like it. 55 00:02:08,129 --> 00:02:10,195 [ Bell dings ] 56 00:02:11,732 --> 00:02:13,165 Good morning. Tony: Hi, Marcus. 57 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:14,700 How are you doing? Lemonis: Are you Tony? 58 00:02:14,735 --> 00:02:16,335 Tony: Yes, I'm Tony. Lemonis: Nice to meet you. 59 00:02:16,370 --> 00:02:18,370 I'm Marcus. Ovie: Hello. My name's Ovie. 60 00:02:18,405 --> 00:02:19,671 Nice meeting you. Lemonis: Ovie, how are you? 61 00:02:19,707 --> 00:02:21,106 Nice to meet you. Ovie: I'm doing alright. 62 00:02:21,142 --> 00:02:22,141 Lemonis: How many locations do you have? 63 00:02:22,176 --> 00:02:23,375 Tony: We have four locations. 64 00:02:23,410 --> 00:02:25,010 Lemonis: Four? Okay. Tony: Yeah. 65 00:02:25,045 --> 00:02:26,478 Tony: This is our first location. 66 00:02:26,514 --> 00:02:28,180 We have one in the West Village. Lemonis: Okay. 67 00:02:28,215 --> 00:02:29,815 Tony: We have one in Brooklyn by the Barclays Center, 68 00:02:29,850 --> 00:02:31,717 and one in Forest Hills on Austin Street. 69 00:02:31,752 --> 00:02:33,719 Lemonis: The concept's interesting. 70 00:02:33,754 --> 00:02:35,454 Is that your mascot? 71 00:02:35,489 --> 00:02:37,189 Tony: Yeah, that's our mascot. That's Eddie the Yeti. 72 00:02:37,224 --> 00:02:39,725 A yeti's like a mythological creature, kind of like a Bigfoot 73 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,194 that lives in the Himalayas in the snow. 74 00:02:42,229 --> 00:02:43,562 Lemonis: How'd you come up with the idea? 75 00:02:43,597 --> 00:02:45,164 Tony: It's really kind of based off 76 00:02:45,199 --> 00:02:47,065 a more traditional Asian dessert. 77 00:02:47,101 --> 00:02:50,202 In Taiwan, they kind of do it with like a milk-powder base. 78 00:02:50,237 --> 00:02:52,204 Lemonis: And it's not the Hawaiian shave ice? 79 00:02:52,239 --> 00:02:53,639 Tony: No, it's not. 80 00:02:53,674 --> 00:02:54,907 We actually do something called shaved cream. 81 00:02:54,942 --> 00:02:56,642 We kind of have our own play on it. 82 00:02:56,677 --> 00:02:57,976 It's a dairy base. Lemonis: Oh, it is? 83 00:02:58,012 --> 00:02:59,778 Tony: So it comes out and the texture's 84 00:02:59,813 --> 00:03:02,314 just very light and fluffy, but it's very creamy in taste. 85 00:03:02,349 --> 00:03:03,815 Lemonis: And how long have you had this store? 86 00:03:03,851 --> 00:03:05,284 Tony: So, we're going on our fourth year. 87 00:03:05,319 --> 00:03:07,753 Lemonis: Oh, wow. High-five on that. 88 00:03:07,788 --> 00:03:09,154 Most people don't make it that long. 89 00:03:09,190 --> 00:03:10,189 Tony: Yeah. Lemonis: What I want to do 90 00:03:10,224 --> 00:03:11,657 is I actually want to try it. 91 00:03:11,692 --> 00:03:13,225 Tony: Yeah, sure. I have some gloves for you. 92 00:03:13,260 --> 00:03:14,726 Lemonis: Walk me through the board and how it works. 93 00:03:14,762 --> 00:03:16,161 Tony: Sure. 94 00:03:16,197 --> 00:03:17,596 So, the first step is choosing your size. 95 00:03:17,631 --> 00:03:19,498 Lemonis: Okay. Then we go to choose our flavor. 96 00:03:19,533 --> 00:03:21,333 Which one is the most popular? 97 00:03:21,368 --> 00:03:22,601 Tony: Yeti Tracks and Green Tea 98 00:03:22,636 --> 00:03:23,669 are our two most popular flavors. 99 00:03:23,704 --> 00:03:25,370 Lemonis: What is in Yeti Tracks? 100 00:03:25,406 --> 00:03:27,839 Tony: Yeti Tracks is the blueberries and Oreos. 101 00:03:27,875 --> 00:03:31,476 Lemonis: Oreos and blueberries, that's interesting. 102 00:03:31,512 --> 00:03:33,178 Carolyn: Hi. Tony: This is Carolyn. 103 00:03:33,214 --> 00:03:34,546 This is one of our other GMs. 104 00:03:34,582 --> 00:03:35,647 Lemonis: Oh, how are you? Carolyn: Hi. 105 00:03:35,683 --> 00:03:36,949 Lemonis: Nice to meet you. 106 00:03:36,984 --> 00:03:38,917 The two of you oversee the four stores? 107 00:03:38,953 --> 00:03:40,219 Tony: Yep. 108 00:03:40,254 --> 00:03:41,853 Lemonis: Okay, so you're not just here? 109 00:03:41,889 --> 00:03:45,057 Ovie: I'm pretty much at all the stores every day. 110 00:03:45,092 --> 00:03:47,092 I also do maintenance work. 111 00:03:47,127 --> 00:03:49,094 There are things that I'm not really good at 112 00:03:49,129 --> 00:03:50,796 that Tony's good at. 113 00:03:50,831 --> 00:03:54,032 Tony is more familiar with orders and scheduling as well. 114 00:03:54,068 --> 00:03:55,734 Lemonis: Okay. 115 00:03:55,769 --> 00:03:57,936 So, we're going to make three sizes and three flavors. 116 00:03:57,972 --> 00:04:00,706 Tony: All of our shaved cream is made into these blocks. 117 00:04:00,741 --> 00:04:02,241 Lemonis: This is actually ice cream? 118 00:04:02,276 --> 00:04:04,376 Tony: Correct, but there's lower butterfat. 119 00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:06,111 It's much lower in calories too. 120 00:04:06,146 --> 00:04:07,479 Lemonis: So that block sits on there 121 00:04:07,514 --> 00:04:08,880 and that machine shaves it? 122 00:04:08,916 --> 00:04:10,549 Tony: Yes. 123 00:04:10,584 --> 00:04:13,452 So, next would be drizzle and the toppings. 124 00:04:13,487 --> 00:04:14,820 We still make everything by hand. 125 00:04:14,855 --> 00:04:15,954 We're mixing everything ourselves -- 126 00:04:15,990 --> 00:04:17,256 I develop all the recipes. 127 00:04:17,291 --> 00:04:19,057 Lemonis: Oh, really? Tony: Yeah. 128 00:04:21,962 --> 00:04:23,595 Lemonis: Okay, this was...? 129 00:04:23,631 --> 00:04:24,930 Carolyn: Cookies and Milk. Lemonis: Cookies and Milk. 130 00:04:24,965 --> 00:04:26,898 So is this mostly an Asian food? 131 00:04:26,934 --> 00:04:28,233 Is that how I should think about it? 132 00:04:28,269 --> 00:04:29,901 Tony: My inspiration was definitely more 133 00:04:29,937 --> 00:04:31,903 of a traditional Asian dessert, 134 00:04:31,939 --> 00:04:33,905 but I felt like a lot of green tea, 135 00:04:33,941 --> 00:04:36,108 black sesame, red bean -- 136 00:04:36,143 --> 00:04:37,409 they were a little bit too traditional. 137 00:04:37,444 --> 00:04:39,111 I felt like this concept had a lot of legs 138 00:04:39,146 --> 00:04:40,812 to reach a bigger demographic 139 00:04:40,848 --> 00:04:43,482 if we did more Western-flavor profiles. 140 00:04:43,517 --> 00:04:44,983 That's why, you know, 141 00:04:45,019 --> 00:04:46,285 New York Cheesecake and the Mint Chocolate. 142 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:47,619 Lemonis: But it's like we're Asian, 143 00:04:47,655 --> 00:04:49,187 but we really don't want to be Asian. 144 00:04:49,223 --> 00:04:50,589 We want to be somebody else. 145 00:04:50,624 --> 00:04:51,623 Why don't you just own the Asian thing? 146 00:04:51,659 --> 00:04:53,091 Tony: I don't say that. 147 00:04:53,127 --> 00:04:54,926 I mean, I guess I just had visions of grandeur. 148 00:04:54,962 --> 00:04:57,596 I wanted to tap into markets that were untapped. 149 00:04:57,631 --> 00:05:00,265 Lemonis: If you go to a gelato place, right, 150 00:05:00,301 --> 00:05:03,635 it has an Italian feel to it in the flavors and the spumoni. 151 00:05:03,671 --> 00:05:06,805 They embrace their culture, and so the Asian community 152 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,775 is one of the most powerful communities in the world. 153 00:05:09,810 --> 00:05:11,977 You should embrace it and not run the other way. 154 00:05:12,012 --> 00:05:14,746 My single biggest investment in the dessert space 155 00:05:14,782 --> 00:05:17,716 is Mr. Green Tea, and it is a monster. 156 00:05:17,751 --> 00:05:19,284 And they're an Asian -- as you know -- 157 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,788 they're an Asian-influenced dessert business. 158 00:05:22,823 --> 00:05:24,956 The Asian community is our base. 159 00:05:24,992 --> 00:05:27,693 When Tony says he wants to reach a wider demographic 160 00:05:27,728 --> 00:05:30,295 by going towards a more Western angle, 161 00:05:30,331 --> 00:05:33,298 what he means is Americanized, and I'm not really sure 162 00:05:33,334 --> 00:05:35,967 how he's going to reach a wider part of the market 163 00:05:36,003 --> 00:05:38,637 when he's doing what everybody else is doing. 164 00:05:38,672 --> 00:05:41,206 You want to reach a broader base of the market, 165 00:05:41,241 --> 00:05:42,674 you go to things that are unique 166 00:05:42,710 --> 00:05:44,710 that are going to attract people to you. 167 00:05:44,745 --> 00:05:46,511 Okay, Yeti Tracks, 168 00:05:46,547 --> 00:05:48,313 with blueberries and waffle cone added. 169 00:05:48,349 --> 00:05:49,981 Tony: It's a very unique flavor. 170 00:05:50,017 --> 00:05:52,150 It's kind of our spin on classic cookies and cream. 171 00:05:52,186 --> 00:05:53,719 Lemonis: It's really good. Tony: Thank you. 172 00:05:53,754 --> 00:05:55,153 Lemonis: It's really light. 173 00:05:55,189 --> 00:05:56,755 It's funny 'cause when I think shave ice, 174 00:05:56,790 --> 00:05:59,091 I think literally shaved ice. 175 00:05:59,126 --> 00:06:01,059 Tony: Yeah, we try not to say "shaved ice" in here. 176 00:06:01,095 --> 00:06:02,494 We call it shaved cream. 177 00:06:02,529 --> 00:06:03,829 Lemonis: Oh, it says shaved cream, okay. 178 00:06:03,864 --> 00:06:05,330 Tony: 'Cause we don't use any water. 179 00:06:05,366 --> 00:06:06,398 Ovie: Customers tell me they thought it was 180 00:06:06,433 --> 00:06:08,166 snowcones because of Snowdays. 181 00:06:08,202 --> 00:06:10,435 You can actually see it on our combos. 182 00:06:10,471 --> 00:06:13,038 It still says snow cream. 183 00:06:13,073 --> 00:06:14,406 Tony: Thanks for pointing that out, Ovie. 184 00:06:14,441 --> 00:06:15,907 Lemonis: Huh? 185 00:06:15,943 --> 00:06:16,942 Tony: I said, "Thanks for pointing that out, Ovie." 186 00:06:16,977 --> 00:06:19,745 Lemonis: No, it's okay. 187 00:06:19,780 --> 00:06:21,513 So, Tony, what I would love to do -- 188 00:06:21,548 --> 00:06:23,949 and I know this is like the uncomfortable part of the day -- 189 00:06:23,984 --> 00:06:25,450 I'm going to ask you to take a walk. 190 00:06:25,486 --> 00:06:26,885 Tony: Sure. Lemonis: Just go out, 191 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:28,453 and I want to just spend some time with them. 192 00:06:28,489 --> 00:06:30,389 Tony: Okay. 193 00:06:30,424 --> 00:06:32,791 Lemonis: So, if you had to list out issues, what are they? 194 00:06:32,826 --> 00:06:36,094 Ovie: I feel like, for us, we know our staff. 195 00:06:36,130 --> 00:06:37,963 Like, we know how to communicate and, like, 196 00:06:37,998 --> 00:06:40,932 how we should go about giving them direction, 197 00:06:40,968 --> 00:06:45,404 whereas Tony, since he's the owner, he's very direct. 198 00:06:45,439 --> 00:06:47,372 Like, if they don't do it, you know... 199 00:06:47,408 --> 00:06:48,640 Carolyn: He'll say they're a bad worker, 200 00:06:48,675 --> 00:06:50,742 but they're actually pretty good. 201 00:06:50,778 --> 00:06:52,744 It's just like there's other things happening, 202 00:06:52,780 --> 00:06:54,479 like, during the time, yeah. 203 00:06:54,515 --> 00:06:57,249 Lemonis: The owner walks in and is like, "Why is it..." 204 00:06:57,284 --> 00:06:59,451 People freeze. Carolyn: Basically. 205 00:07:02,990 --> 00:07:04,723 Lemonis: Do you guys always have supplies, 206 00:07:04,758 --> 00:07:06,658 or do you ever run out of supplies? 207 00:07:06,693 --> 00:07:09,428 Ovie: Yeah. Toppings. Carolyn: Flavors. 208 00:07:09,463 --> 00:07:11,229 Lemonis: How many different flavors are there? 209 00:07:11,265 --> 00:07:12,964 Ovie: 10 different flavors. 210 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,867 Carolyn: But there would be like five flavors out sometimes. 211 00:07:15,903 --> 00:07:17,669 Lemonis: Really? Carolyn: Yeah. 212 00:07:17,704 --> 00:07:19,237 Lemonis: That'd be like going to Baskin Robbins or 31 Flavors 213 00:07:19,273 --> 00:07:21,173 and them saying, "Sorry, we only have 20." 214 00:07:21,208 --> 00:07:22,741 Carolyn: Yeah. Ovie: Exactly. 215 00:07:22,776 --> 00:07:25,076 And we only have one truck that we deliver out of. 216 00:07:25,112 --> 00:07:26,578 Carolyn: It's not big enough. 217 00:07:26,613 --> 00:07:28,346 Ovie: It can't hold everything for that one day. 218 00:07:28,382 --> 00:07:32,250 It's a pick-up truck, and even that needs a bit of maintenance. 219 00:07:32,286 --> 00:07:36,254 A lot of the processes we implemented in the past -- 220 00:07:36,290 --> 00:07:38,490 they kind of just got buried. 221 00:07:38,525 --> 00:07:40,792 Carolyn: And no one uses it, even though it's there. 222 00:07:40,828 --> 00:07:42,260 Lemonis: What do you mean "the processes?" 223 00:07:42,296 --> 00:07:43,762 Ovie: At the end of the day, we give him, 224 00:07:43,797 --> 00:07:45,831 like, things we want to try out. 225 00:07:45,866 --> 00:07:47,299 Lemonis: Yeah. Carolyn: But there's no change. 226 00:07:47,334 --> 00:07:49,000 Lemonis: Nobody listens to you guys. 227 00:07:49,036 --> 00:07:51,503 Ovie: Yeah. 228 00:07:51,538 --> 00:07:54,406 Lemonis: So I went on Yelp -- "The last time I came in, 229 00:07:54,441 --> 00:07:57,309 they were out of bananas and blueberry puree." 230 00:07:57,344 --> 00:07:58,977 Ovie: There you go. Yeah. 231 00:07:59,012 --> 00:08:00,712 Lemonis: By the way, guys, this is a couple days ago. 232 00:08:00,747 --> 00:08:02,481 Carolyn: Tony would read the reviews, 233 00:08:02,516 --> 00:08:05,684 and then he'll come to us and, like, yell at us. 234 00:08:05,719 --> 00:08:07,819 Lemonis: But what are you going to yell at the staff for? 235 00:08:07,855 --> 00:08:09,488 There's no ice cream. What do you want me to? 236 00:08:09,523 --> 00:08:10,655 Ovie: Exactly. Mm-hmm. 237 00:08:10,691 --> 00:08:14,125 Carolyn: Someone actually just quit like last week. 238 00:08:14,161 --> 00:08:15,494 Lemonis: Over? 239 00:08:15,529 --> 00:08:16,728 Carolyn: Because they were fed up with Tony 240 00:08:16,763 --> 00:08:17,996 expecting too much of them. 241 00:08:18,031 --> 00:08:19,564 Ovie: Yeah. 242 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,366 Lemonis: The frustration that Ovie and Carolyn have, 243 00:08:21,401 --> 00:08:23,301 as the frontline people in the store, 244 00:08:23,337 --> 00:08:25,971 that they're constantly running out of flavors 245 00:08:26,006 --> 00:08:28,306 means that there's a supply-chain problem. 246 00:08:28,342 --> 00:08:31,142 They're not to blame, Tony's to blame. 247 00:08:31,178 --> 00:08:32,944 And so him taking out his frustration 248 00:08:32,980 --> 00:08:34,813 on them kills the morale. 249 00:08:34,848 --> 00:08:36,515 How much revenue will this store do? 250 00:08:36,550 --> 00:08:39,184 Tony: First full year in 2015, we did almost $600,000, 251 00:08:39,219 --> 00:08:41,987 and then like $450,000 the next year, 252 00:08:42,022 --> 00:08:43,822 and it's $350,000, 253 00:08:43,857 --> 00:08:46,892 and then this year it's down about 20%. 254 00:08:46,927 --> 00:08:49,661 Lemonis: From last year? Tony: Yeah. 255 00:08:49,696 --> 00:08:52,130 Lemonis: And so the four locations that you own -- 256 00:08:52,165 --> 00:08:53,398 do any of them make money? 257 00:08:53,433 --> 00:08:55,534 Tony: No. 258 00:08:55,569 --> 00:08:57,168 Lemonis: Can we go see West Village? 259 00:08:57,204 --> 00:08:59,070 Tony: Yeah, absolutely. Lemonis: Alright. 260 00:09:01,241 --> 00:09:04,009 Woman: Let me try the condensed milk. 261 00:09:04,044 --> 00:09:07,546 Tony: Awesome. Lemonis: Hi. 262 00:09:07,581 --> 00:09:08,947 How are you? 263 00:09:08,982 --> 00:09:10,949 So this store's a lot different, right? 264 00:09:10,984 --> 00:09:12,551 Tony: Right. 265 00:09:12,586 --> 00:09:14,119 Lemonis: Tony, why is this menu board different 266 00:09:14,154 --> 00:09:15,787 than the one at the original store? 267 00:09:15,822 --> 00:09:18,790 As I walk into the second location, 268 00:09:18,825 --> 00:09:20,859 it feels completely different 269 00:09:20,894 --> 00:09:22,961 than the first location I just came from. 270 00:09:22,996 --> 00:09:25,931 The menu's different, the sign's different -- 271 00:09:25,966 --> 00:09:27,766 it's a totally different experience. 272 00:09:27,801 --> 00:09:30,969 Tony: So, the original store -- we did kind of bootstrap it. 273 00:09:31,004 --> 00:09:32,904 I did some of the construction myself. 274 00:09:32,940 --> 00:09:34,539 Like, we built it out, like, you know... 275 00:09:34,575 --> 00:09:36,041 Lemonis: But as you came up with this idea, 276 00:09:36,076 --> 00:09:37,909 why didn't you go back and fix that one? 277 00:09:37,945 --> 00:09:40,378 Tony: We just didn't have the money to go back and... 278 00:09:40,414 --> 00:09:42,447 Lemonis: But you had the money to go open up another store? 279 00:09:42,482 --> 00:09:44,082 Tony: Yeah. Lemonis: Okay. 280 00:09:44,117 --> 00:09:46,885 Tony made the common mistake of every entrepreneur 281 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:48,753 that he expanded too quickly. 282 00:09:48,789 --> 00:09:51,723 Now what he's left with is a half-baked business concept 283 00:09:51,758 --> 00:09:54,259 with inconsistent branding. 284 00:09:54,294 --> 00:09:55,994 Do people ever ask you 285 00:09:56,029 --> 00:09:58,430 if there's any other products besides this? 286 00:09:58,465 --> 00:10:01,032 Tony: It just happened. Lemonis: What did they ask for? 287 00:10:01,068 --> 00:10:03,735 Tony: They were asking for some Vietnamese Iced Coffee. 288 00:10:03,770 --> 00:10:06,738 Lemonis: Tony has a very limited product offering, 289 00:10:06,773 --> 00:10:09,407 except he's got a huge space. 290 00:10:09,443 --> 00:10:11,576 It seems like an easy opportunity. 291 00:10:11,612 --> 00:10:14,079 Look at every corner of the shop. 292 00:10:14,114 --> 00:10:15,080 You really want to think to yourself, 293 00:10:15,115 --> 00:10:16,147 "Where is the opportunity here?" 294 00:10:16,183 --> 00:10:17,749 Tony: Right. Absolutely. 295 00:10:17,784 --> 00:10:20,185 Lemonis: Do you think you could sell mochi here? 296 00:10:20,220 --> 00:10:22,854 Tony: I don't know if people are going to be lining up for it. 297 00:10:22,889 --> 00:10:25,190 Lemonis: Have you tested it? Tony: No, I haven't. 298 00:10:25,225 --> 00:10:28,760 It's just not, you know -- it never crossed my mind. 299 00:10:28,795 --> 00:10:30,829 Other products I would definitely consider, 300 00:10:30,864 --> 00:10:33,665 like brownies, other baked goods. 301 00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:35,266 Lemonis: I have nothing against brownies, 302 00:10:35,302 --> 00:10:37,268 but the problem is I can find them anywhere, 303 00:10:37,304 --> 00:10:38,503 on every street corner. 304 00:10:38,538 --> 00:10:40,772 What you won't find is mochi, 305 00:10:40,807 --> 00:10:43,842 and he's already selling a very unique Asian dessert. 306 00:10:43,877 --> 00:10:45,777 Why not just capitalize on that? 307 00:10:45,812 --> 00:10:49,014 Frequency of visits is determined largely 308 00:10:49,049 --> 00:10:50,782 by diversity of offering. 309 00:10:50,817 --> 00:10:52,550 Tony: Okay. 310 00:10:52,586 --> 00:10:54,653 Lemonis: And so if you want people to come in more often, 311 00:10:54,688 --> 00:10:57,822 how do I need to increase the frequency of my visit, 312 00:10:57,858 --> 00:11:00,992 and how do I improve my margins? Tony: Sure. 313 00:11:01,028 --> 00:11:02,527 Lemonis: Can we go see the commissary? 314 00:11:02,562 --> 00:11:03,895 Tony: I would love for you to go see that one. 315 00:11:03,930 --> 00:11:05,130 Lemonis: Why don't we head over there. 316 00:11:05,165 --> 00:11:06,831 Tony: Thank you, Marcus. Thank you. 317 00:11:08,702 --> 00:11:11,136 Lemonis: As I drove an hour and a half from New York City 318 00:11:11,171 --> 00:11:13,138 to his distribution facility, 319 00:11:13,173 --> 00:11:15,840 it dawned on me that, yeah, this is one of the problems. 320 00:11:15,876 --> 00:11:17,976 You're not in the business of delivering food, 321 00:11:18,011 --> 00:11:21,146 and you're spending 3, 4 hours a day driving. 322 00:11:21,181 --> 00:11:23,548 Tony: Can you just rinse this out real quick? 323 00:11:23,583 --> 00:11:24,549 Hey, Marcus. Lemonis: Oh, hey. 324 00:11:24,584 --> 00:11:26,284 Tony: So, this is Bill. 325 00:11:26,319 --> 00:11:28,586 This is actually my wife, Stephanie. 326 00:11:28,622 --> 00:11:30,255 Lemonis: Oh, hi. 327 00:11:30,290 --> 00:11:32,757 Tony: She's transitioning jobs, so she's helping us out. 328 00:11:32,793 --> 00:11:34,359 Lemonis: You mean she's saving your ass? 329 00:11:34,394 --> 00:11:35,827 Tony: I mean, yeah. 330 00:11:35,862 --> 00:11:38,029 Lemonis: Okay. As wives normally do, right? 331 00:11:38,065 --> 00:11:39,898 Tony: Absolutely. She's the boss. 332 00:11:42,803 --> 00:11:44,502 Lemonis: And so what is this area? 333 00:11:44,538 --> 00:11:48,006 Tony: This is where our deep freezers are. 334 00:11:48,041 --> 00:11:49,674 So this is like... 335 00:11:49,710 --> 00:11:51,609 Lemonis: And all they do is get made in here? 336 00:11:51,645 --> 00:11:53,244 Tony: Yep. 337 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:54,579 Lemonis: And then they pop out and go into the bag? 338 00:11:54,614 --> 00:11:55,847 Tony: Correct. 339 00:11:55,882 --> 00:11:57,682 All these hold different flavors. 340 00:11:57,718 --> 00:11:59,217 So this is the Yeti Tracks, 341 00:11:59,252 --> 00:12:02,420 and this is what they're pulling from for delivery. 342 00:12:02,456 --> 00:12:04,589 Lemonis: What's in this one? Tony: It should be Green Tea, 343 00:12:04,624 --> 00:12:07,659 but we're making Green Tea right now. 344 00:12:07,694 --> 00:12:08,960 Lemonis: Empty. 345 00:12:08,995 --> 00:12:10,195 Tony: There's nothing in here yet. 346 00:12:10,230 --> 00:12:12,731 Lemonis: And then... 347 00:12:12,766 --> 00:12:15,200 Green Tea, nothing in here. Tony: Nothing in here. 348 00:12:15,235 --> 00:12:16,935 Lemonis: So you're out of Green Tea. 349 00:12:16,970 --> 00:12:18,403 Tony: This summer's been -- 350 00:12:18,438 --> 00:12:19,938 we've had a lot of production issues. 351 00:12:19,973 --> 00:12:21,873 So, our schedule is Monday -- Green Tea, 352 00:12:21,908 --> 00:12:24,609 Yeti Tracks, full day of it, and then we do 353 00:12:24,644 --> 00:12:27,045 a smaller run of it today, this would be Thursday. 354 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:29,314 Lemonis: So, you need to be producing all the time. 355 00:12:29,349 --> 00:12:32,217 I'm starting to understand that Tony's drops in revenue 356 00:12:32,252 --> 00:12:34,385 could, in large part, be blamed on the fact 357 00:12:34,421 --> 00:12:37,422 that he doesn't have the manufacturing process right, 358 00:12:37,457 --> 00:12:40,325 which ultimately leads to a lack of product in the stores, 359 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:41,993 which ultimately leads to a customer 360 00:12:42,028 --> 00:12:44,729 walking in and turning right back around and leaving. 361 00:12:44,765 --> 00:12:45,730 Let's make some Green Tea. 362 00:12:45,766 --> 00:12:49,100 Tony: Yeah, absolutely. 363 00:12:49,136 --> 00:12:50,769 So, the cream is getting whipped, 364 00:12:50,804 --> 00:12:52,837 to aerate and create that volume. 365 00:12:52,873 --> 00:12:54,572 Lemonis: When was the last time you did this? 366 00:12:54,608 --> 00:12:57,075 Tony: Saturday. 367 00:12:57,110 --> 00:12:58,510 When there's nobody else for production, 368 00:12:58,545 --> 00:13:02,680 I'm the only person who knows the recipes. 369 00:13:02,716 --> 00:13:05,150 Lemonis: It's very warm in here, and I will tell you 370 00:13:05,185 --> 00:13:09,687 it's not an appropriate environment to make ice cream. 371 00:13:09,723 --> 00:13:12,524 Look, I know a lot about ice cream manufacturing facilities. 372 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,492 I'm heavily invested in one. 373 00:13:14,528 --> 00:13:17,862 This particular facility in no way passes any standard 374 00:13:17,898 --> 00:13:19,164 that I'm comfortable with. 375 00:13:19,199 --> 00:13:20,965 And, obviously, this factory 376 00:13:21,001 --> 00:13:22,967 isn't even efficient enough to keep up 377 00:13:23,003 --> 00:13:25,170 with the demand that they do have. 378 00:13:25,205 --> 00:13:28,373 Instead of Tony spending time in each one of his locations, 379 00:13:28,408 --> 00:13:31,109 improving the actual results of the business, 380 00:13:31,144 --> 00:13:33,211 he ends up spending all of his time in the factory 381 00:13:33,246 --> 00:13:35,313 trying to produce shaved cream. 382 00:13:35,348 --> 00:13:38,349 Why couldn't a traditional ice cream manufacturer 383 00:13:38,385 --> 00:13:42,353 just make this for you and take out some of the butterfat? 384 00:13:42,389 --> 00:13:43,922 Tony: It's not quite mixed the same. 385 00:13:43,957 --> 00:13:46,057 You know, the process is very unique, and -- 386 00:13:46,092 --> 00:13:47,992 Lemonis: But is it made the same way ice cream 387 00:13:48,028 --> 00:13:49,360 is made in the vats? Tony: It's not. 388 00:13:49,396 --> 00:13:50,862 It's not like traditional ice cream 389 00:13:50,897 --> 00:13:52,263 where you can just go find a recipe on it, 390 00:13:52,299 --> 00:13:54,165 so I developed all these recipes myself. 391 00:13:54,201 --> 00:13:55,567 It's proprietary, you know, 392 00:13:55,602 --> 00:13:57,335 so I really kind of kept that close to the chest. 393 00:13:57,370 --> 00:13:59,637 It's been definitely a labor of love. 394 00:13:59,673 --> 00:14:02,340 Lemonis: A labor of love starts as a hobby, 395 00:14:02,375 --> 00:14:04,175 and then the love has to come out of it 396 00:14:04,211 --> 00:14:08,079 and it has to turn into a labor of execution and precision. 397 00:14:08,114 --> 00:14:09,848 Love only gets you so far. 398 00:14:09,883 --> 00:14:13,051 Look, I understand that business owners want to have control 399 00:14:13,086 --> 00:14:15,353 of their product, and that makes sense to me. 400 00:14:15,388 --> 00:14:18,056 But based on his reaction to everything that I've told him 401 00:14:18,091 --> 00:14:20,391 and what I've learned from Carolyn and Ovie, 402 00:14:20,427 --> 00:14:22,894 he doesn't take feedback very well. 403 00:14:22,929 --> 00:14:24,495 And if we're going to work together, 404 00:14:24,531 --> 00:14:25,997 well, that's going to change. 405 00:14:26,032 --> 00:14:28,433 So, what is this neighborhood? 406 00:14:28,468 --> 00:14:30,802 Tony: So, this is considered Flushing. 407 00:14:30,837 --> 00:14:32,370 My parents actually own this building. 408 00:14:32,405 --> 00:14:33,872 Lemonis: Oh, they do? 409 00:14:33,907 --> 00:14:36,174 Tony: They came over here as refugees from Vietnam. 410 00:14:36,209 --> 00:14:39,043 They were, like, Chinese people that were kind of persecuted 411 00:14:39,079 --> 00:14:40,712 by the Communist movement. 412 00:14:40,747 --> 00:14:43,147 My dad was in an internment camp for four years. 413 00:14:43,183 --> 00:14:44,782 Lemonis: Really? 414 00:14:44,818 --> 00:14:47,085 Tony: Actually, he got the family over here intact. 415 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:48,686 They saved up their money, and they got an opportunity 416 00:14:48,722 --> 00:14:51,055 to open up a laundromat up in Connecticut, 417 00:14:51,091 --> 00:14:53,224 so you know we grew up more Westernized, 418 00:14:53,260 --> 00:14:55,226 more exposure to that type of lifestyle. 419 00:14:55,262 --> 00:14:57,962 Lemonis: And what does owning this business mean to you? 420 00:14:57,998 --> 00:14:59,364 Tony: I mean, it's been everything. 421 00:14:59,399 --> 00:15:00,999 It's been a roller coaster up and down. 422 00:15:01,034 --> 00:15:02,634 It's probably some of the happiest times of my life 423 00:15:02,669 --> 00:15:04,869 and some of the most stressful times in my life. 424 00:15:04,905 --> 00:15:06,871 You know, my wife and I had a baby. 425 00:15:06,907 --> 00:15:10,074 She's gorgeous, she's great, but, you know, 426 00:15:10,110 --> 00:15:12,243 because I'm not taking an income, my wife 427 00:15:12,279 --> 00:15:15,647 Steph is an absolute trouper. 428 00:15:15,682 --> 00:15:17,415 She's basically been supporting the family, 429 00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:21,286 and, you know, I just feel like she's so understanding, 430 00:15:21,321 --> 00:15:23,922 but I know she deserves so much more. 431 00:15:23,957 --> 00:15:27,058 And with the baby, it just... 432 00:15:27,093 --> 00:15:30,395 to be able to afford, you know, like, childcare, 433 00:15:30,430 --> 00:15:33,631 it's just not in the cards with one income. 434 00:15:33,667 --> 00:15:35,433 Lemonis: While I don't necessarily like all 435 00:15:35,468 --> 00:15:37,602 the decisions that Tony has made, 436 00:15:37,637 --> 00:15:39,237 I do like the fact 437 00:15:39,272 --> 00:15:42,373 that I feel like he's fully immersed in his business, 438 00:15:42,409 --> 00:15:44,909 and he's fully committed to seeing it succeed. 439 00:15:44,945 --> 00:15:47,679 Tomorrow, I want to meet with you at the Brooklyn location. 440 00:15:47,714 --> 00:15:48,813 Tony: Absolutely. Lemonis: Okay. 441 00:15:48,848 --> 00:15:50,481 Tony: I appreciate it, Marcus. 442 00:15:50,517 --> 00:15:51,983 Lemonis: You keep your head up, okay? 443 00:15:52,018 --> 00:15:53,685 We'll go back. Tony: Alright. 444 00:15:53,720 --> 00:16:01,492 ♪♪ 445 00:16:01,528 --> 00:16:05,496 ♪♪ 446 00:16:05,532 --> 00:16:07,498 [ Bell dings ] 447 00:16:09,336 --> 00:16:11,436 Lemonis: Well, this looks different. 448 00:16:11,471 --> 00:16:12,937 Tony: A little bit, right? 449 00:16:12,973 --> 00:16:16,274 Lemonis: I'm now seeing the third different sign 450 00:16:16,309 --> 00:16:18,943 and the third different store design. 451 00:16:18,979 --> 00:16:21,612 Does he have an identity crisis? 452 00:16:21,648 --> 00:16:23,314 So let's go through the financial statements. 453 00:16:23,350 --> 00:16:27,885 East Village did $329,000 in revenue, 454 00:16:27,921 --> 00:16:30,655 down from $445,000 the year before, 455 00:16:30,690 --> 00:16:34,325 which is down from $600,000 the year before that. 456 00:16:34,361 --> 00:16:36,461 It's down almost 50%. 457 00:16:36,496 --> 00:16:37,829 West Village -- 458 00:16:37,864 --> 00:16:40,298 $260,000 of revenue, which is shocking, 459 00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:41,899 'cause it's a pretty good location. 460 00:16:41,935 --> 00:16:43,534 Tony: Yeah. 461 00:16:43,570 --> 00:16:45,370 Sales have dropped significantly over across the board. 462 00:16:45,405 --> 00:16:48,172 It's so dead in the winter time that we actually close down. 463 00:16:48,208 --> 00:16:50,808 Lemonis: It looks like it's dead in the summer, too. 464 00:16:50,844 --> 00:16:52,076 That's not good. 465 00:16:52,112 --> 00:16:55,113 And then Brooklyn -- $100,000 loss. 466 00:16:56,016 --> 00:16:57,548 Tony: Um... 467 00:16:57,584 --> 00:16:59,017 I mean... 468 00:16:59,052 --> 00:17:00,785 Lemonis: All the stores combined -- 469 00:17:00,820 --> 00:17:04,655 East Village, West Village, Forest Hills, and Brooklyn -- 470 00:17:04,691 --> 00:17:08,326 lost $198,000. 471 00:17:08,361 --> 00:17:11,562 Of that, half of it came from Brooklyn. 472 00:17:11,598 --> 00:17:15,066 So the challenge I have is that the stores all lose money. 473 00:17:17,337 --> 00:17:20,338 But I think deep down, amidst all the chaos 474 00:17:20,373 --> 00:17:23,174 that you've created, you're very talented, 475 00:17:23,209 --> 00:17:25,043 you're very smart. Tony: I appreciate that. 476 00:17:25,078 --> 00:17:26,978 Lemonis: And it's still a pretty freaking cool idea, 477 00:17:27,013 --> 00:17:29,013 and so that's a good formula. Tony: Yeah. 478 00:17:29,049 --> 00:17:31,282 Lemonis: So I'm willing to do a deal with you. 479 00:17:31,317 --> 00:17:32,583 Tony: Okay. Lemonis: Okay? 480 00:17:32,619 --> 00:17:36,020 But it's going to be a deal that... 481 00:17:36,056 --> 00:17:38,289 it's not going to be great. 482 00:17:38,324 --> 00:17:40,091 Tony: Okay. Lemonis: Okay? 483 00:17:40,126 --> 00:17:42,026 So I'm willing to invest 300 grand 484 00:17:42,062 --> 00:17:46,064 for 50% of the business. 485 00:17:46,099 --> 00:17:47,732 Tony: Would you be willing to maybe lower your equity 486 00:17:47,767 --> 00:17:51,736 just a little bit, maybe down to 40%? 487 00:17:51,771 --> 00:17:54,505 Lemonis: The $300,000 offer is for 50%. 488 00:17:54,541 --> 00:17:58,910 I'm offering you $300,000 for 50%. 489 00:18:00,246 --> 00:18:01,646 We got a deal? 490 00:18:01,681 --> 00:18:06,884 ♪♪ 491 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:08,719 Ovie: There are times when you give us direction 492 00:18:08,755 --> 00:18:11,155 and it can be kind of vague. 493 00:18:11,191 --> 00:18:12,590 Lemonis: But you guys got to get better 494 00:18:12,625 --> 00:18:14,459 at this communication because it will be 495 00:18:14,494 --> 00:18:15,827 a giant [bleep]show 496 00:18:15,862 --> 00:18:17,762 unless you guys are on the same page. 497 00:18:20,700 --> 00:18:22,333 Tony: Wo 498 00:18:22,368 --> 00:18:24,735 just a little bit, maybe down to 40%? 499 00:18:26,806 --> 00:18:29,607 Lemonis: The $300,000 offer is for 50%. 500 00:18:29,642 --> 00:18:33,211 I'm offering you $300,000 for 50%. 501 00:18:35,315 --> 00:18:38,015 We got a deal? 502 00:18:38,051 --> 00:18:39,750 Tony: I think we have a deal. 503 00:18:39,786 --> 00:18:41,385 Lemonis: Okay. 504 00:18:45,725 --> 00:18:46,757 Tony: Appreciate it, Marcus. Lemonis: Okay. We did it! 505 00:18:46,793 --> 00:18:48,059 Tony: I'm really excited. 506 00:18:48,094 --> 00:18:49,293 Lemonis: Okay, so a lot's going to change. 507 00:18:49,329 --> 00:18:50,695 Tony: Absolutely. 508 00:18:50,730 --> 00:18:52,130 Lemonis: And then next time I see you, 509 00:18:52,165 --> 00:18:53,531 we're going to get to work? 510 00:18:53,566 --> 00:18:55,299 Sound good? Tony: Sounds good. 511 00:18:59,539 --> 00:19:01,372 Lemonis: Good morning. Carolyn: Good morning. 512 00:19:01,407 --> 00:19:03,608 Lemonis: You know, I made a deal with Tony 513 00:19:03,643 --> 00:19:05,076 to invest in the business. 514 00:19:05,111 --> 00:19:07,211 You know, I love the idea of the shaved cream, 515 00:19:07,247 --> 00:19:08,746 and I think you guys have built something 516 00:19:08,781 --> 00:19:10,481 that's got some real potential. 517 00:19:10,517 --> 00:19:13,651 I don't like the idea that this isn't something special 518 00:19:13,686 --> 00:19:15,453 that embraces your culture. 519 00:19:15,488 --> 00:19:18,489 It's just an idea that just got off the rails. 520 00:19:18,525 --> 00:19:19,757 Tony: Absolutely. 521 00:19:19,792 --> 00:19:21,159 Lemonis: And you started opening up shops 522 00:19:21,194 --> 00:19:22,660 and didn't even get the first one right. 523 00:19:22,695 --> 00:19:24,595 I don't like the fact that there's just not 524 00:19:24,631 --> 00:19:26,230 a lot of options for people. 525 00:19:26,266 --> 00:19:28,399 I think you need to press the reset button 526 00:19:28,434 --> 00:19:31,736 and literally wipe it out and start over. 527 00:19:31,771 --> 00:19:34,906 What I'd like to do is remodel the East Village store, 528 00:19:34,941 --> 00:19:36,807 and we're going to shut the other ones down 529 00:19:36,843 --> 00:19:39,844 and start over with a concept that has the right product, 530 00:19:39,879 --> 00:19:42,446 the embracing of the culture, it's different, 531 00:19:42,482 --> 00:19:47,185 something you've never seen anywhere before. 532 00:19:47,220 --> 00:19:49,187 This is supposed to be exciting times. 533 00:19:49,222 --> 00:19:51,088 Tony: I mean, I'm nervous about all the changes 534 00:19:51,124 --> 00:19:52,590 and what's going to be happening. 535 00:19:52,625 --> 00:19:54,759 We're going to close down and tear everything down, 536 00:19:54,794 --> 00:19:56,827 like, that's a lot to take in. 537 00:19:56,863 --> 00:19:59,597 Lemonis: Draconian changes is the only way 538 00:19:59,632 --> 00:20:01,632 this business is going to survive. 539 00:20:01,668 --> 00:20:03,634 I'm not just going to sprinkle fairy dust 540 00:20:03,670 --> 00:20:05,303 and keep all these stores open. 541 00:20:05,338 --> 00:20:08,306 I want to get to one concept, and I want it to work. 542 00:20:08,341 --> 00:20:09,640 Every store you have is different. 543 00:20:09,676 --> 00:20:11,008 Tony: Right. 544 00:20:11,044 --> 00:20:12,610 Lemonis: So there is no actual concept. 545 00:20:12,645 --> 00:20:15,313 The East Village loses the least amount of money, 546 00:20:15,348 --> 00:20:17,481 so Brooklyn needs to close, 547 00:20:17,517 --> 00:20:20,284 Forest Hills needs to close, this needs to close. 548 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,620 Tony: That makes sense. 549 00:20:22,655 --> 00:20:24,488 Lemonis: Over the next 60 days, we're going to begin 550 00:20:24,524 --> 00:20:27,825 winding down the three poor-performing locations, 551 00:20:27,860 --> 00:20:29,994 and we're going to focus on the people, the process, 552 00:20:30,029 --> 00:20:31,562 and the product. 553 00:20:31,598 --> 00:20:33,965 I like the people, but we definitely have to improve 554 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,834 the communication between Tony and his staff. 555 00:20:36,869 --> 00:20:38,803 He needs to listen to their feedback, 556 00:20:38,838 --> 00:20:41,272 and they need to feel comfortable offering it. 557 00:20:41,307 --> 00:20:43,241 We need to streamline the ordering process 558 00:20:43,276 --> 00:20:47,078 so that Snowdays never runs out of supplies or product. 559 00:20:47,113 --> 00:20:49,547 And we need to fix the manufacturing process 560 00:20:49,582 --> 00:20:50,982 of the shaved cream. 561 00:20:51,017 --> 00:20:52,817 The product we have is great, 562 00:20:52,852 --> 00:20:54,819 but we need to diversify the offering 563 00:20:54,854 --> 00:20:56,854 and add more products to actually increase 564 00:20:56,889 --> 00:20:58,556 the revenue and make a profit. 565 00:20:58,591 --> 00:21:00,825 If you look at what's happened in the marketplace, 566 00:21:00,860 --> 00:21:02,593 especially in New York, 567 00:21:02,629 --> 00:21:05,196 it's a melting pot of a lot of different cultures, 568 00:21:05,231 --> 00:21:08,032 and millennials like culture. 569 00:21:08,067 --> 00:21:10,668 Tony: I think bringing you on board is, like -- 570 00:21:10,703 --> 00:21:12,436 we obviously need changes in the company. 571 00:21:12,472 --> 00:21:15,039 But, to be fair, saying an "Asian culture" 572 00:21:15,074 --> 00:21:16,941 is just so broad and so big. 573 00:21:16,976 --> 00:21:18,509 Lemonis: It is. Tony: You know, it's like, 574 00:21:18,544 --> 00:21:20,278 this isn't just Taiwanese, it's not just Korean, 575 00:21:20,313 --> 00:21:21,846 it's not just Chinese. Lemonis: Exactly. 576 00:21:21,881 --> 00:21:23,614 Do they have desserts in other parts of Asia? 577 00:21:23,650 --> 00:21:25,249 Tony: Yeah, absolutely. Lemonis: Great. 578 00:21:25,285 --> 00:21:26,450 I want to know what those are, and I want to find them. 579 00:21:26,486 --> 00:21:28,052 Tony: Right. Sure. 580 00:21:28,087 --> 00:21:29,720 Lemonis: And I want to make this place different 581 00:21:29,756 --> 00:21:31,422 so that people want to come here 582 00:21:31,457 --> 00:21:34,058 and people are fascinated, like, "You can go to this place 583 00:21:34,093 --> 00:21:36,527 and you can have these unbelievable desserts, 584 00:21:36,562 --> 00:21:38,195 like, things I've never seen before." 585 00:21:38,231 --> 00:21:41,399 My idea is to have a curated Asian treat shop 586 00:21:41,434 --> 00:21:44,035 with a selection of exotic candies and snacks 587 00:21:44,070 --> 00:21:46,237 from an array of Asian cultures. 588 00:21:46,272 --> 00:21:48,306 We need to try new products, we need to test them 589 00:21:48,341 --> 00:21:50,174 and focus group them to find out 590 00:21:50,209 --> 00:21:53,311 what products will actually make a new store successful. 591 00:21:53,346 --> 00:21:54,912 We're going to take one location 592 00:21:54,947 --> 00:21:56,447 and we're going to make it a perfect model. 593 00:21:56,482 --> 00:21:58,916 I want to literally start new. Tony: Right. 594 00:21:58,951 --> 00:22:05,589 ♪♪ 595 00:22:05,625 --> 00:22:07,391 Lemonis: Oh, my goodness! 596 00:22:09,996 --> 00:22:12,463 Today I'm bringing Tony, Ovie, and Carolyn 597 00:22:12,498 --> 00:22:13,931 to one of the coolest 598 00:22:13,966 --> 00:22:16,901 Asian grocery stores in the entire country. 599 00:22:16,936 --> 00:22:18,736 I'm going to get a shopping cart. 600 00:22:18,771 --> 00:22:21,405 And all I want them to do is go in there with an open mind, 601 00:22:21,441 --> 00:22:24,909 have fun, and pick products that they find to be interesting 602 00:22:24,944 --> 00:22:26,677 and they think people will like. 603 00:22:26,713 --> 00:22:28,412 Tony: Ovie, get another cart. 604 00:22:30,516 --> 00:22:31,949 Lemonis: What are shrimp sticks? 605 00:22:31,984 --> 00:22:33,517 Jessica: Like, seafood kind of -- 606 00:22:33,553 --> 00:22:34,985 Lemonis: Is it good? 607 00:22:35,021 --> 00:22:37,988 Jessica: Yeah. Lemonis: Try those pea crackers. 608 00:22:38,024 --> 00:22:41,425 ♪♪ 609 00:22:41,461 --> 00:22:43,594 This bottle's awesome. We have to get two. 610 00:22:43,629 --> 00:22:46,864 These are kind of cool looking. 611 00:22:46,899 --> 00:22:48,466 No, that's weird. 612 00:22:48,501 --> 00:22:50,634 Everybody grab something. Let's have fun. 613 00:22:50,670 --> 00:22:54,605 Jessica: We have some very popular, um, herbal drinks. 614 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:56,107 Lemonis: What about this one? 615 00:22:56,142 --> 00:22:58,008 Jessica: It's like a vegetable yogurt drink. 616 00:22:58,044 --> 00:23:01,445 Lemonis: We'll get a couple. Get the orange one, too. 617 00:23:01,481 --> 00:23:03,714 Jessica: Melonas are really popular. 618 00:23:03,750 --> 00:23:05,449 Lemonis: It's a green bean ice cream bar? 619 00:23:05,485 --> 00:23:07,051 Jessica: Uh-huh. 620 00:23:07,086 --> 00:23:09,019 Lemonis: You ever had this? Is it just plum juice? 621 00:23:09,055 --> 00:23:10,454 Jessica: It's so good. Lemonis: It is good? 622 00:23:10,490 --> 00:23:12,289 Jessica: Yeah, it's a little sour. 623 00:23:12,325 --> 00:23:15,459 Lemonis: If I was a consumer and I walked into a store 624 00:23:15,495 --> 00:23:17,528 that had shaved cream and mochi 625 00:23:17,563 --> 00:23:19,597 and all these drinks, I would be like, 626 00:23:19,632 --> 00:23:21,732 "This place is..." Wouldn't you think? 627 00:23:21,768 --> 00:23:23,634 Ovie: That's exactly what I thought when I saw these. 628 00:23:23,669 --> 00:23:25,369 I was like, "Wow. This is cool." 629 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:29,640 Lemonis: Ovie and Carolyn seem open-minded 630 00:23:29,675 --> 00:23:32,510 and excited about adding all these products to the store, 631 00:23:32,545 --> 00:23:34,245 but Tony not so much. 632 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:36,981 And what really concerns me is how the three of them 633 00:23:37,016 --> 00:23:39,150 are actually going to get along going forward 634 00:23:39,185 --> 00:23:40,818 when they don't agree on something. 635 00:23:40,853 --> 00:23:43,020 I want to understand how you guys work 636 00:23:43,055 --> 00:23:44,522 together a little bit better. 637 00:23:44,557 --> 00:23:46,257 When somebody has an idea and the other person 638 00:23:46,292 --> 00:23:48,826 doesn't like it, how do you communicate it? 639 00:23:48,861 --> 00:23:52,329 Ovie: Usually I voice my opinion about it and then, you know, 640 00:23:52,365 --> 00:23:55,433 usually me and Tony would have our little disagreements. 641 00:23:55,468 --> 00:23:59,236 And then, you know, I'll get chewed out for it. 642 00:23:59,272 --> 00:24:01,572 It'd be nice to know if, like, 643 00:24:01,607 --> 00:24:05,042 if my own opinion mattered in those situations. 644 00:24:05,077 --> 00:24:07,111 There are times when you give us direction 645 00:24:07,146 --> 00:24:08,879 that can be kind of vague. 646 00:24:08,915 --> 00:24:11,382 Carolyn: We usually, like, discuss with each other 647 00:24:11,417 --> 00:24:13,784 to try to figure out, like, what exactly you want. 648 00:24:13,820 --> 00:24:15,553 Tony: I don't think it's fair for you guys to be, like, 649 00:24:15,588 --> 00:24:18,222 you know, I'm not explaining it. 650 00:24:18,257 --> 00:24:20,424 Lemonis: You guys have got to get better at this communication 651 00:24:20,460 --> 00:24:22,860 because it'll be a giant [bleep]show 652 00:24:22,895 --> 00:24:25,362 unless you guys are on the same page. 653 00:24:27,967 --> 00:24:30,034 You made this mold, right? Richard: Yeah. 654 00:24:30,069 --> 00:24:32,303 So the mold's plastic? Tony: The mold's plastic. 655 00:24:32,338 --> 00:24:33,904 Richard: So you re-use the mold? 656 00:24:33,940 --> 00:24:35,706 Tony: I re-use the mold. We clean it and we wash it. 657 00:24:35,741 --> 00:24:37,107 Michael: You can't do that. 658 00:24:37,143 --> 00:24:38,809 With the new FDA laws, you'd have to test 659 00:24:38,845 --> 00:24:40,578 that those chemicals aren't breaking down the plastic, 660 00:24:40,613 --> 00:24:42,680 which they probably are. 661 00:24:43,950 --> 00:24:48,919 ♪♪ 662 00:24:48,955 --> 00:24:51,188 Lemonis: You guys have got to get better at this communication 663 00:24:51,224 --> 00:24:53,557 because it'll be a giant [bleep]show 664 00:24:53,593 --> 00:24:55,926 unless you guys are on the same page. 665 00:24:57,997 --> 00:24:59,296 Ovie: I don't know, man. 666 00:24:59,332 --> 00:25:01,966 I feel like somewhere down the line 667 00:25:02,001 --> 00:25:03,868 I just ended up taking over. 668 00:25:03,903 --> 00:25:06,904 I feel like it should have always been you. 669 00:25:06,939 --> 00:25:08,105 Tony: You never communicate to me 670 00:25:08,140 --> 00:25:09,740 that you're having issues with it 671 00:25:09,775 --> 00:25:12,142 or that these responsibilities are falling onto your lap 672 00:25:12,178 --> 00:25:15,880 and that you can't handle it or you don't want to handle it. 673 00:25:15,915 --> 00:25:17,648 Ovie: It's been two-and-a-half years. 674 00:25:17,683 --> 00:25:19,483 Tony: I think moving forward, there's going to be 675 00:25:19,519 --> 00:25:22,987 very clear responsibilities for everybody -- 676 00:25:23,022 --> 00:25:25,589 for the three of us, right? 677 00:25:25,625 --> 00:25:29,560 Ovie: Right. Tony: You good? 678 00:25:29,595 --> 00:25:33,464 Lemonis: While I'm not convinced that Tony and Ovie have solved 679 00:25:33,499 --> 00:25:36,500 all their communication issues, I am happy about the fact 680 00:25:36,536 --> 00:25:38,636 that they're at least dialoguing about it. 681 00:25:43,442 --> 00:25:45,676 Hi, guys. How we feeling? 682 00:25:45,711 --> 00:25:47,845 Before we move forward with the new concept, 683 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:49,413 I want to get some customer feedback 684 00:25:49,448 --> 00:25:51,148 about all these new ideas. 685 00:25:51,183 --> 00:25:53,717 But more importantly, I want to see how Tony's going to react 686 00:25:53,753 --> 00:25:55,686 if there is positive feedback. 687 00:25:55,721 --> 00:25:57,855 Is he going to be able to implement these new changes 688 00:25:57,890 --> 00:25:59,490 and move the business forward? 689 00:25:59,525 --> 00:26:02,326 If he doesn't buy into this -- I've got to be honest -- 690 00:26:02,361 --> 00:26:03,961 I'm kind of out of ideas. 691 00:26:03,996 --> 00:26:06,430 Ovie and Carolyn, if you guys could come over here 692 00:26:06,465 --> 00:26:09,433 and just take notes on what they like or didn't like. 693 00:26:09,468 --> 00:26:10,434 Let's get some people in here. 694 00:26:10,469 --> 00:26:12,036 Let's have some fun. 695 00:26:12,071 --> 00:26:13,504 You guys want to come in and taste some stuff? 696 00:26:13,539 --> 00:26:14,838 Woman: Like what? 697 00:26:14,874 --> 00:26:16,540 Lemonis: You ever had shaved cream? 698 00:26:16,576 --> 00:26:18,943 Do you like Asian desserts? 699 00:26:18,978 --> 00:26:20,711 Come on in. Come on in. 700 00:26:20,746 --> 00:26:23,113 We're going to have you guys help us do some testing. 701 00:26:23,149 --> 00:26:25,916 Carolyn: How do you like it? Woman: I like it. 702 00:26:28,354 --> 00:26:30,154 Lemonis: Oh, those are good. Woman: Right? 703 00:26:30,189 --> 00:26:32,790 It's like a really hearty potato chip without the oil. 704 00:26:32,825 --> 00:26:35,359 Woman really interesting. 705 00:26:35,394 --> 00:26:37,461 Ovie: So if we had both of these on our shelves, 706 00:26:37,496 --> 00:26:38,896 you would go for this one? 707 00:26:38,931 --> 00:26:40,364 Woman: Well, I've seen that one in stores. 708 00:26:40,399 --> 00:26:41,665 But I think most people would go with this 709 00:26:41,701 --> 00:26:43,267 'cause it just looks more familiar 710 00:26:43,302 --> 00:26:44,969 and you can tell that it's, like, watermelon flavored. 711 00:26:45,004 --> 00:26:46,403 Ovie: Alright, thank you guys for the feedback. 712 00:26:46,439 --> 00:26:48,072 Carolyn: So this is the original flavor. 713 00:26:48,107 --> 00:26:50,541 Ovie: So what's your opinion on the passion fruit? 714 00:26:50,576 --> 00:26:52,810 Man: I don't like the texture of this drink to be honest. 715 00:26:52,845 --> 00:26:55,079 Ovie: How would you describe this one's flavor? 716 00:26:55,114 --> 00:26:58,983 Woman: It's definitely stronger. Carolyn: Lychee. 717 00:26:59,018 --> 00:27:02,620 Okay, do you want to go check out some snacks, maybe? 718 00:27:02,655 --> 00:27:04,888 Lemonis: Their biggest complaint is that they just didn't feel 719 00:27:04,924 --> 00:27:07,358 like you were giving them enough direction. 720 00:27:07,393 --> 00:27:08,993 Look how included they feel now. 721 00:27:09,028 --> 00:27:12,196 Like, this is becoming their project too. 722 00:27:12,231 --> 00:27:14,331 Tony: Yeah. Lemonis: Look how excited he is. 723 00:27:14,367 --> 00:27:15,933 Ovie: Would you come back for more? 724 00:27:15,968 --> 00:27:17,267 Man: Yeah. Ovie: That's great. 725 00:27:17,303 --> 00:27:19,036 Lemonis: Ovie and Carolyn were engaging 726 00:27:19,071 --> 00:27:22,106 and they were enthusiastic about what it is that we're doing. 727 00:27:22,141 --> 00:27:24,274 They were talking to people, getting good feedback. 728 00:27:24,310 --> 00:27:26,176 Are you guys having fun? Woman: Yes. 729 00:27:26,212 --> 00:27:28,512 Lemonis: Would you come in and buy something walking by? 730 00:27:28,547 --> 00:27:29,847 Woman 731 00:27:29,882 --> 00:27:31,515 So I can have it in class or something. 732 00:27:31,550 --> 00:27:33,617 Lemonis: And while Tony started out a little skeptical, 733 00:27:33,653 --> 00:27:35,386 he has warmed up -- 734 00:27:35,421 --> 00:27:37,888 especially once he noticed the customers really liked it. 735 00:27:37,923 --> 00:27:39,189 Tony: We just picked these up. 736 00:27:39,225 --> 00:27:40,190 I thought they looked pretty cool. 737 00:27:40,226 --> 00:27:41,558 It's like a watermelon soda. 738 00:27:41,594 --> 00:27:43,360 You ever have cucumber flavored Lay's? 739 00:27:43,396 --> 00:27:44,395 Man: Very good. Tony: Very good, right? 740 00:27:44,430 --> 00:27:45,796 Man: This is very good, yeah. 741 00:27:45,831 --> 00:27:48,766 Tony: They really like the mango crepe cake. 742 00:27:48,801 --> 00:27:50,901 Lemonis: And I don't know if he's completely there yet, 743 00:27:50,936 --> 00:27:52,736 but I do like the progress. 744 00:27:52,772 --> 00:27:54,571 This is the Asian version of Pop Rocks. 745 00:27:54,607 --> 00:27:56,040 Tony: Yes. 746 00:27:56,075 --> 00:27:57,307 Ovie: Thanks for, you know, all the feedback. 747 00:27:57,343 --> 00:27:59,777 It's really going to help us out. 748 00:27:59,812 --> 00:28:01,445 Lemonis: I'm going to have Tony start to work 749 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:02,880 with Precise Graphix, 750 00:28:02,915 --> 00:28:04,915 one of the companies inside my portfolio. 751 00:28:04,950 --> 00:28:06,950 And I want them to work on a whole-new concept 752 00:28:06,986 --> 00:28:08,819 for the East Village location. 753 00:28:08,854 --> 00:28:11,055 Tony: So I was thinking, like, this area over here we would do 754 00:28:11,090 --> 00:28:13,323 some kind of bleacher seating, or tiered seating. 755 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:14,892 Keith: We're thinking a whole-new design -- 756 00:28:14,927 --> 00:28:16,493 new colors and everything. 757 00:28:16,529 --> 00:28:18,328 Lemonis: Precise is designing a whole-new concept 758 00:28:18,364 --> 00:28:21,465 that will incorporate coolers for drinks and display spaces 759 00:28:21,500 --> 00:28:23,067 for snacks with cool, 760 00:28:23,102 --> 00:28:25,903 new design elements that really tie into the concept. 761 00:28:25,938 --> 00:28:30,107 Tony is responsible to supervise the demolition and construction. 762 00:28:33,479 --> 00:28:36,346 ♪♪ 763 00:28:36,382 --> 00:28:37,748 Tony: You can take this all off. 764 00:28:37,783 --> 00:28:41,719 ♪♪ 765 00:28:41,754 --> 00:28:43,654 Lemonis: Because Tony's really struggled with 766 00:28:43,689 --> 00:28:46,356 keeping things in stock, I've tasked Ovie with coming up 767 00:28:46,392 --> 00:28:48,459 with an inventory management system 768 00:28:48,494 --> 00:28:50,527 that ensures that the supply chain works 769 00:28:50,563 --> 00:28:51,929 and we're never out of anything. 770 00:28:51,964 --> 00:28:53,297 What's this? 771 00:28:53,332 --> 00:28:54,598 Tony: "Sold out" magnet for the menu. 772 00:28:54,633 --> 00:28:56,500 Lemonis: This is crazy-town. 773 00:28:58,704 --> 00:29:01,171 And finally, there's one more step we need to take 774 00:29:01,207 --> 00:29:03,107 to get this company back on track. 775 00:29:03,142 --> 00:29:06,844 For me, you need to survive. Tony: Yeah. 776 00:29:06,879 --> 00:29:08,312 Lemonis: Right? And you need to be able 777 00:29:08,347 --> 00:29:10,781 to provide some stability for you and your family. 778 00:29:10,816 --> 00:29:12,649 Tony: Absolutely, and I totally agree. 779 00:29:12,685 --> 00:29:14,752 Lemonis: I think part of it is you got to fix 780 00:29:14,787 --> 00:29:16,453 that production facility. 781 00:29:16,489 --> 00:29:18,622 You should not be in the manufacturing business. 782 00:29:18,657 --> 00:29:20,257 We've got to figure that out. 783 00:29:20,292 --> 00:29:23,127 Going forward, I want to show Tony a different way 784 00:29:23,162 --> 00:29:25,462 to get his shaved cream manufactured -- 785 00:29:25,498 --> 00:29:29,299 a way that doesn't involve his current, sub-standard facility. 786 00:29:29,335 --> 00:29:30,968 I'm going to have to convince him that not only 787 00:29:31,003 --> 00:29:32,836 is it a smart thing to do, 788 00:29:32,872 --> 00:29:36,240 but in my book, it's essential for him to stay in business. 789 00:29:36,275 --> 00:29:40,477 ♪♪ 790 00:29:40,513 --> 00:29:42,846 The Emanuele family, Richard and Michael, 791 00:29:42,882 --> 00:29:44,848 are the owners of Mr. Green Tea, 792 00:29:44,884 --> 00:29:47,417 a business that I invested in several years ago. 793 00:29:47,453 --> 00:29:50,220 And they are the leader in manufacturing 794 00:29:50,256 --> 00:29:54,057 Asian-inspired ice creams and Asian-inspired Mochi. 795 00:29:54,093 --> 00:29:55,359 Michael: Nice to meet you, Tony. 796 00:29:55,394 --> 00:29:56,660 Lemonis: I wanted Tony to meet them 797 00:29:56,695 --> 00:29:58,662 so that he could see the possibilities 798 00:29:58,697 --> 00:30:01,165 of having somebody manufacture his product. 799 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,834 So I had his shaver and some cream sent over so Tony 800 00:30:03,869 --> 00:30:06,036 can show them his unique dessert. 801 00:30:06,071 --> 00:30:10,107 The goal would be to get you out of the expense of production... 802 00:30:10,142 --> 00:30:11,441 Tony: Sure. Lemonis: ...and the expense 803 00:30:11,477 --> 00:30:14,244 of logistics and the expense of staff. 804 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:15,946 Tony: Yeah, I mean, listen. 805 00:30:15,981 --> 00:30:18,749 I'm open to suggestions and I'm not just going to say, 806 00:30:18,784 --> 00:30:22,519 "No, I don't like that idea" without thinking about it first. 807 00:30:22,555 --> 00:30:25,189 Lemonis: This isn't an attack on Tony's ability, 808 00:30:25,224 --> 00:30:29,459 this is a way to make Tony's life easier. 809 00:30:29,495 --> 00:30:31,461 Tony: It's less than 150 calories for this cup. 810 00:30:31,497 --> 00:30:32,462 Richard: Really? Tony: Yeah. 811 00:30:32,498 --> 00:30:33,931 Michael: It's very good. 812 00:30:33,966 --> 00:30:35,699 Tony: Yeah, we use ceremonial-grade matcha 813 00:30:35,734 --> 00:30:37,434 imported from Japan. Richard: Okay. 814 00:30:37,469 --> 00:30:40,003 Lemonis: I would want the flavor if we're manufacturing here 815 00:30:40,039 --> 00:30:41,772 to match exactly what we're doing. 816 00:30:41,807 --> 00:30:43,473 You made this mold, right? 817 00:30:43,509 --> 00:30:45,075 Tony: I didn't make the mold, but yeah. 818 00:30:45,110 --> 00:30:46,410 Lemonis: You just use, like, a tub? 819 00:30:46,445 --> 00:30:47,911 Tony: Yes. Lemonis: But there can be 820 00:30:47,947 --> 00:30:49,379 a more efficient way to make an actual mold. 821 00:30:49,415 --> 00:30:51,014 Michael: Oh, yeah. 822 00:30:51,050 --> 00:30:53,050 A more food-safe way. 823 00:30:53,085 --> 00:30:55,185 Richard: So the mold's plastic? Tony: Mold's plastic. 824 00:30:55,221 --> 00:30:56,787 Richard: So you re-use the mold? 825 00:30:56,822 --> 00:30:58,722 Tony: I re-use the mold. We clean it and we wash it. 826 00:30:58,757 --> 00:31:04,428 Michael: So that -- so that's, like -- you can't do that. 827 00:31:04,463 --> 00:31:06,230 Because the correct chemicals you have to use now 828 00:31:06,265 --> 00:31:08,098 with the new FDA laws, 829 00:31:08,133 --> 00:31:09,633 you'd have to test that those chemicals aren't breaking down 830 00:31:09,668 --> 00:31:12,102 the plastic, which they probably are. 831 00:31:14,540 --> 00:31:17,574 Ovie: Three years of work I put in and there's no appreciation. 832 00:31:17,610 --> 00:31:19,109 I think I owe it to myself to, 833 00:31:19,144 --> 00:31:21,979 you know, look for other opportunities. 834 00:31:22,014 --> 00:31:23,313 Tony: Can we get off-camera for this? 835 00:31:23,349 --> 00:31:24,615 This is, like, crazy. 836 00:31:27,253 --> 00:31:29,486 Richard: So the mold's plastic? Tony: Mold's plastic. 837 00:31:29,521 --> 00:31:31,054 Richard: So you re-use the mold? 838 00:31:31,090 --> 00:31:32,856 Tony: I re-use the mold. We clean it and we wash it. 839 00:31:32,892 --> 00:31:38,161 Michael: So that -- so that's, like -- you can't do that. 840 00:31:38,197 --> 00:31:40,030 Because the correct chemicals you have to use now 841 00:31:40,065 --> 00:31:41,865 with the new FDA laws, 842 00:31:41,901 --> 00:31:43,333 you'd have to test that those chemicals aren't breaking down 843 00:31:43,369 --> 00:31:47,004 the plastic, which they probably are. 844 00:31:47,039 --> 00:31:49,072 Lemonis: The fact that Michael just told him 845 00:31:49,108 --> 00:31:52,342 that he is violating FDA regulations in the way 846 00:31:52,378 --> 00:31:56,113 he's manufacturing food should stun Tony. 847 00:31:56,148 --> 00:31:58,849 Because I've got to be honest with you, I'm stunned. 848 00:31:58,884 --> 00:32:00,350 Lemonis: Get out of the nightmare of production 849 00:32:00,386 --> 00:32:02,219 right now. Tony: I just -- 850 00:32:02,254 --> 00:32:03,954 I can't wrap my mind around 851 00:32:03,989 --> 00:32:06,290 just getting rid of our production facilities. 852 00:32:06,325 --> 00:32:08,091 Michael: Well, here's another big part of it. 853 00:32:08,127 --> 00:32:09,893 When you now go to franchises, you're going to have to come 854 00:32:09,929 --> 00:32:12,896 to the table and show them, "The facility we make this at 855 00:32:12,932 --> 00:32:15,732 is SQF certified, it's GMSI certified." 856 00:32:15,768 --> 00:32:17,734 And, you know, these certifications cost 857 00:32:17,770 --> 00:32:19,236 hundreds of thousands of dollars... 858 00:32:19,271 --> 00:32:20,237 Tony: Sure. Michael: ...a year -- 859 00:32:20,272 --> 00:32:21,705 every year. 860 00:32:21,740 --> 00:32:23,573 Lemonis: And then we're in trouble. 861 00:32:23,609 --> 00:32:26,743 Michael: Yeah, that's big trouble. 862 00:32:26,779 --> 00:32:28,312 Lemonis: You opened up in New York City, 863 00:32:28,347 --> 00:32:30,547 you had great success, people love it, 864 00:32:30,582 --> 00:32:33,317 but it needs an evolution or it'll die. 865 00:32:33,352 --> 00:32:35,218 Tony: I agree. 866 00:32:35,254 --> 00:32:37,554 Lemonis: And relationships like this will be like gold to you. 867 00:32:37,589 --> 00:32:39,056 Richard: Tony, you have to evolve, you know? 868 00:32:39,091 --> 00:32:40,891 And you can't be afraid to do that. 869 00:32:40,926 --> 00:32:45,062 I'm telling you from experience, you can't be afraid to do that. 870 00:32:45,097 --> 00:32:47,497 Lemonis: What they don't know is the business took a lot of heat 871 00:32:47,533 --> 00:32:49,733 for being out of flavors, out of stock. 872 00:32:49,768 --> 00:32:52,736 Tony: That's true. Lemonis: Close your commissary, 873 00:32:52,771 --> 00:32:54,604 get out of the nightmare of production. 874 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,473 It's just, like -- what are we doing? 875 00:32:56,508 --> 00:32:57,641 Michael: Yeah. Richard: Yeah. 876 00:33:00,212 --> 00:33:01,578 Tony: I think that makes sense. 877 00:33:01,613 --> 00:33:04,114 That's fair. Lemonis: Let's get going. 878 00:33:04,149 --> 00:33:05,515 Michael: Let's make some, uh... Lemonis: Money. 879 00:33:05,551 --> 00:33:07,184 Michael: ...some snow bunnies. 880 00:33:07,219 --> 00:33:08,685 Tony: Thank you, Michael. Lemonis: To say that I'm happy 881 00:33:08,721 --> 00:33:11,254 that Tony is handing over the logistical process 882 00:33:11,290 --> 00:33:13,523 of making his product is an understatement. 883 00:33:13,559 --> 00:33:15,258 And I know it's a huge hurdle, 884 00:33:15,294 --> 00:33:17,494 but there's a lot more work to be done. 885 00:33:17,529 --> 00:33:24,267 ♪♪ 886 00:33:24,303 --> 00:33:26,269 While Ovie is putting in extra hours 887 00:33:26,305 --> 00:33:28,372 making sure the store is ready to open, 888 00:33:28,407 --> 00:33:32,075 Tony is scouring the city looking for more Asian desserts 889 00:33:32,111 --> 00:33:34,745 to add to his location. 890 00:33:34,780 --> 00:33:36,813 Now, because of everybody's hard work, 891 00:33:36,849 --> 00:33:39,449 the East Village location is just about a week 892 00:33:39,485 --> 00:33:40,784 away from opening. 893 00:33:40,819 --> 00:33:45,288 ♪♪ 894 00:33:45,324 --> 00:33:48,492 Ovie: For some reason, it's a lot smaller than before. 895 00:33:48,527 --> 00:33:50,293 Tony: Than before? Ovie: Yeah. 896 00:33:50,329 --> 00:33:52,129 Tony: Yeah, so, did you get everything 897 00:33:52,164 --> 00:33:53,797 I asked you to get done? 898 00:33:53,832 --> 00:33:55,799 All of the inventory's in, sorted out, getting people 899 00:33:55,834 --> 00:33:59,403 scheduled to get them coming back into the space this week? 900 00:33:59,438 --> 00:34:00,937 Ovie: I couldn't get everything done. 901 00:34:00,973 --> 00:34:02,906 I did schedule the movers, 902 00:34:02,941 --> 00:34:06,243 and I'm still working on the catalog for the inventory. 903 00:34:06,278 --> 00:34:07,677 Tony: You know, we're restarting with everything 904 00:34:07,713 --> 00:34:09,913 and it's a new -- you know, a new concept 905 00:34:09,948 --> 00:34:11,681 and there's a lot more that goes into it. 906 00:34:11,717 --> 00:34:12,983 Ovie: Yeah. I get that. 907 00:34:13,018 --> 00:34:15,419 It's just that you give me a task 908 00:34:15,454 --> 00:34:20,424 and I'm forced to go at it alone. 909 00:34:20,459 --> 00:34:22,692 You know, we're kind of spread thin and Carolyn's 910 00:34:22,728 --> 00:34:24,061 out of town, as well. 911 00:34:24,096 --> 00:34:26,096 If [bleep] hits the fan, like, 912 00:34:26,131 --> 00:34:27,864 I don't know how much more I can give. 913 00:34:27,900 --> 00:34:29,666 It's getting harder and harder, you know? 914 00:34:29,701 --> 00:34:31,601 Tony: There's no room for the negativity. 915 00:34:31,637 --> 00:34:33,036 I need you to be on board 916 00:34:33,072 --> 00:34:35,305 and just focus on getting this shop open. 917 00:34:35,340 --> 00:34:36,740 Ovie: I've pretty much given everything. 918 00:34:36,775 --> 00:34:38,508 Tony: I get it. Listen, Ovie, 919 00:34:38,544 --> 00:34:40,177 I've got an 18-month-year-old daughter at home. 920 00:34:40,212 --> 00:34:41,445 Ovie: Yeah. Tony: I've got a wife 921 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:43,013 that's, like, supporting me right now 922 00:34:43,048 --> 00:34:44,548 while we're going through this process. 923 00:34:44,583 --> 00:34:48,718 I need you to be less negative. 924 00:34:48,754 --> 00:34:51,088 Ovie: It just shows me, like, three years of work I've put in 925 00:34:51,123 --> 00:34:54,124 and, like, there's no appreciation for it. 926 00:34:54,159 --> 00:34:56,359 Like, everything I did just crumbled 927 00:34:56,395 --> 00:34:58,195 and I had to think about, like, 928 00:34:58,230 --> 00:34:59,963 what I want to do going forward with my life. 929 00:34:59,998 --> 00:35:03,600 I think I owe it to myself to, you know, 930 00:35:03,635 --> 00:35:05,869 look for other opportunities. 931 00:35:06,305 --> 00:35:09,206 Tony: Uh, I... 932 00:35:09,241 --> 00:35:11,074 I'm sorry this is -- this is a little -- 933 00:35:11,110 --> 00:35:12,375 Can we get off camera for this? 934 00:35:12,411 --> 00:35:13,910 This is, like, crazy. 935 00:35:13,946 --> 00:35:17,247 ♪♪ 936 00:35:25,023 --> 00:35:27,757 Ovie: I think I owe it to myself to, you know, 937 00:35:27,793 --> 00:35:30,894 look for other opportunities. 938 00:35:30,929 --> 00:35:34,531 Tony: O-Ovie, like, I -- I'm sorry this is -- 939 00:35:34,566 --> 00:35:36,867 this is a little -- Can we get off camera for this? 940 00:35:36,902 --> 00:35:38,668 This is, like, crazy. 941 00:35:42,875 --> 00:35:45,108 The last thing I want you is to make an abrupt decision 942 00:35:45,144 --> 00:35:46,843 because, you know, you're emotional right now 943 00:35:46,879 --> 00:35:49,279 and, like, it seems really stressful. 944 00:35:49,314 --> 00:35:50,780 Ovie: It is. Like, it is. 945 00:35:50,816 --> 00:35:53,350 Tony: No, I know it is. Look at everything. 946 00:35:53,385 --> 00:35:55,085 Look what we're in the middle of. 947 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,621 And, like, you know, you're just going to potentially leave? 948 00:35:57,656 --> 00:36:01,191 Ovie: I just don't know how much more I can sacrifice. 949 00:36:01,226 --> 00:36:02,959 Tony: I just closed down three shops -- 950 00:36:02,995 --> 00:36:05,629 four shops with this one under construction. 951 00:36:05,664 --> 00:36:07,430 There's no room for the negativity. 952 00:36:07,466 --> 00:36:09,432 Like, and I'm handling most of the work 953 00:36:09,468 --> 00:36:11,468 with development with Mr. Green Tea, 954 00:36:11,503 --> 00:36:15,105 figuring out the rest of the design work for Precise. 955 00:36:15,140 --> 00:36:16,873 Hey, Marcus, how are you doing? 956 00:36:16,909 --> 00:36:18,074 Lemonis: What's happening? 957 00:36:18,110 --> 00:36:19,876 How's everybody doing? 958 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:24,514 I wanted to stop by the East Village location 959 00:36:24,550 --> 00:36:26,783 to meet with Tony and Ovie to find out what's happening 960 00:36:26,818 --> 00:36:29,152 with the construction and the whole process. 961 00:36:29,188 --> 00:36:32,055 But it's clear to me that I walked into something else. 962 00:36:32,090 --> 00:36:33,757 Ovie, how are you? 963 00:36:34,259 --> 00:36:35,926 Ovie: Um... 964 00:36:35,961 --> 00:36:38,161 we just had a talk about, like, the issues 965 00:36:38,197 --> 00:36:42,332 where Tony's management style was non-existent. 966 00:36:42,367 --> 00:36:45,635 And he can be kind of a dick sometimes. 967 00:36:45,671 --> 00:36:47,070 Tony: Yeah, to a certain extent. 968 00:36:47,105 --> 00:36:48,572 But, like, it's a lot going on right now. 969 00:36:48,607 --> 00:36:49,839 We're all stressed. 970 00:36:49,875 --> 00:36:51,308 Ovie: At some point I had to realize, 971 00:36:51,343 --> 00:36:53,476 like, we can't keep going. 972 00:36:56,281 --> 00:36:58,982 Lemonis: Look, I knew there were problems between Ovie and Tony, 973 00:36:59,017 --> 00:37:02,652 but I am surprised to find out that Ovie is so frustrated 974 00:37:02,688 --> 00:37:04,454 that he's considering leaving. 975 00:37:04,489 --> 00:37:07,591 Losing such an experienced, dedicated person right before 976 00:37:07,626 --> 00:37:11,361 the opening would be a massive death blow to Tony. 977 00:37:11,396 --> 00:37:13,096 Tony: We're at a crossroads right now, you know, 978 00:37:13,131 --> 00:37:14,431 and we're going to get through it. 979 00:37:14,466 --> 00:37:16,366 Like, that's all I've got to tell you. 980 00:37:16,401 --> 00:37:18,201 Like, we're going to get through it. 981 00:37:18,237 --> 00:37:21,037 Ovie: I get you're saying that, but I don't know, man. 982 00:37:21,073 --> 00:37:22,606 Tony: This is going to be a good opportunity for us. 983 00:37:22,641 --> 00:37:24,541 It'll be like -- I promise I'll do right by you. 984 00:37:24,576 --> 00:37:26,710 I don't want you for a second to feel like I don't appreciate 985 00:37:26,745 --> 00:37:28,712 all the work that you've done 'cause I really do. 986 00:37:28,747 --> 00:37:30,614 And I really can't do it without you, 987 00:37:30,649 --> 00:37:34,618 and I really do think that this is going to be a success. 988 00:37:34,653 --> 00:37:38,555 ♪♪ 989 00:37:38,590 --> 00:37:40,657 Ovie: I do take your word on it. 990 00:37:40,692 --> 00:37:42,325 Tony: You've done a great job, Ovie. 991 00:37:42,361 --> 00:37:44,127 And thanks for standing by me all these years. 992 00:37:44,162 --> 00:37:45,128 Ovie: Of course. Tony: I appreciate it. 993 00:37:45,163 --> 00:37:46,696 Give me a hug, man. 994 00:37:51,603 --> 00:37:54,304 Ovie: I kind of needed that. 995 00:37:54,339 --> 00:37:56,473 Lemonis: Look, for people to stay and want to work somewhere, 996 00:37:56,508 --> 00:37:58,174 they have to feel appreciated. 997 00:37:58,210 --> 00:38:01,711 And I'm finally happy to see that Tony is recognizing 998 00:38:01,747 --> 00:38:04,314 that he needs Ovie to be successful. 999 00:38:04,349 --> 00:38:05,982 It's not a one-man band. 1000 00:38:06,018 --> 00:38:07,417 It's almost like a new chapter. 1001 00:38:07,452 --> 00:38:09,119 Tony: Right. 1002 00:38:09,154 --> 00:38:15,225 ♪♪ 1003 00:38:15,260 --> 00:38:21,331 ♪♪ 1004 00:38:21,366 --> 00:38:23,166 Lemonis: Today is the day that the store 1005 00:38:23,201 --> 00:38:25,101 is finally going to open. 1006 00:38:25,137 --> 00:38:28,672 Tony is totally committed to the changes and the concept. 1007 00:38:28,707 --> 00:38:30,774 Carolyn: Oh, they look good. 1008 00:38:30,809 --> 00:38:33,043 Lemonis: Partnering with Mr. Green Tea has allowed him 1009 00:38:33,078 --> 00:38:36,112 to focus on the important things like the store redesign 1010 00:38:36,148 --> 00:38:38,114 and sourcing new products. Michael: One of the things 1011 00:38:38,150 --> 00:38:39,849 we wanted to get rid of was plastic. 1012 00:38:39,885 --> 00:38:42,018 Right, single-use plastics are, like, really bad right now. 1013 00:38:42,054 --> 00:38:43,586 Tony: Yeah, absolutely. 1014 00:38:43,622 --> 00:38:45,622 Michael: So what we have here is 100% cardboard, 1015 00:38:45,657 --> 00:38:49,025 paper-based packaging for your shaved creams. 1016 00:38:49,061 --> 00:38:52,429 And the packaging's 100% recyclable, as well. 1017 00:38:52,464 --> 00:38:54,564 Tony: That looks beautiful. Michael: There we go! 1018 00:38:54,599 --> 00:38:56,232 Tony: A little drizzle. 1019 00:38:56,268 --> 00:38:58,735 Michael: Ready for Instagram. Tony: Yes, seriously. 1020 00:38:58,770 --> 00:39:00,203 Lemonis: I know that Tony, Carolyn, 1021 00:39:00,238 --> 00:39:02,739 and Ovie have been working around the clock. 1022 00:39:02,774 --> 00:39:04,107 Tony: You're going to make the peanut butter sauce, 1023 00:39:04,142 --> 00:39:05,608 right, Ovie? 1024 00:39:05,644 --> 00:39:07,410 Ovie: Yeah, let me just wipe that area down. 1025 00:39:07,446 --> 00:39:09,479 Lemonis: There is a lot riding on this for Tony, 1026 00:39:09,514 --> 00:39:11,781 and I know he's feeling the pressure. 1027 00:39:11,817 --> 00:39:14,050 Tony: Hey, Ovie? Ovie: Yeah? 1028 00:39:14,086 --> 00:39:15,418 Tony: Do you know why this freezer's not running? 1029 00:39:15,454 --> 00:39:16,553 Did you unplug it? 1030 00:39:16,588 --> 00:39:18,221 Ovie: No. Tony: So weird. 1031 00:39:18,256 --> 00:39:19,656 Ovie: Yeah, it was on last night. 1032 00:39:19,691 --> 00:39:21,391 Tony: Is it defrosting? 1033 00:39:21,426 --> 00:39:22,792 Ovie: Oh, most likely. 1034 00:39:22,828 --> 00:39:25,395 Carolyn: They're kind of soft in there. 1035 00:39:25,430 --> 00:39:26,796 Tony: It's not on. 1036 00:39:26,832 --> 00:39:28,398 Ovie: We should check everything inside. 1037 00:39:28,433 --> 00:39:30,066 Carolyn: Oh, my God. 1038 00:39:30,102 --> 00:39:32,802 Tony: Definitely not on. 1039 00:39:32,838 --> 00:39:35,071 Lemonis: If your business is in trouble and you need my help, 1040 00:39:35,107 --> 00:39:37,874 log on to TheProfitCasting.com. 1041 00:39:39,210 --> 00:39:41,144 Tony: It's not on. 1042 00:39:41,179 --> 00:39:43,279 Carolyn: Oh, my God. 1043 00:39:43,315 --> 00:39:45,615 Tony: It's definitely not on. 1044 00:39:45,650 --> 00:39:47,650 Ovie: I'm going to press the reset button. 1045 00:39:47,686 --> 00:39:52,288 ♪♪ 1046 00:39:52,324 --> 00:39:53,957 Tony: Oh, there it goes. Ovie: Did that do anything? 1047 00:39:53,992 --> 00:39:55,425 Tony: Yep, it's working. 1048 00:39:55,460 --> 00:39:57,260 Ovie: We should check everything inside. 1049 00:39:57,295 --> 00:39:59,195 Tony: Good work. Thanks for figuring that out. 1050 00:39:59,231 --> 00:40:01,498 That would have been really bad. 1051 00:40:01,533 --> 00:40:03,800 Lemonis: While I've seen prototypes and drawings, 1052 00:40:03,835 --> 00:40:05,802 it never truly encapsulates 1053 00:40:05,837 --> 00:40:08,071 what's actually going to happen in the store. 1054 00:40:08,106 --> 00:40:09,706 What? 1055 00:40:09,741 --> 00:40:12,876 But as I go inside, I almost didn't recognize it. 1056 00:40:12,911 --> 00:40:15,311 Holy Moses, it looks totally different! 1057 00:40:15,347 --> 00:40:16,646 Carolyn: Hi, Marcus! 1058 00:40:18,884 --> 00:40:19,849 Lemonis: Really good to see you. 1059 00:40:19,885 --> 00:40:21,484 Look at you with your outfit on. 1060 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:23,019 Tony: You like it? Lemonis: How are you? 1061 00:40:23,054 --> 00:40:24,487 Carolyn: Hey. Ovie: Hey, Marcus. 1062 00:40:24,523 --> 00:40:26,856 Lemonis: You guys look like you're a team. 1063 00:40:26,892 --> 00:40:28,691 It's like a new business. 1064 00:40:28,727 --> 00:40:30,293 It looks kind of amazing. 1065 00:40:30,328 --> 00:40:31,361 Can you give me kind of a walk around? 1066 00:40:31,396 --> 00:40:32,996 Tony: Yeah, absolutely. 1067 00:40:33,031 --> 00:40:34,631 Essentially you follow the footsteps through the store. 1068 00:40:34,666 --> 00:40:36,232 Lemonis: Okay. 1069 00:40:36,268 --> 00:40:37,867 Tony: So it brings you to some of the stuff from, like, 1070 00:40:37,903 --> 00:40:40,470 the bakery that we, you know, kind of private labeled. 1071 00:40:40,505 --> 00:40:41,838 And then footprints go up, 1072 00:40:41,873 --> 00:40:44,040 so they lead you to the menu. 1073 00:40:44,075 --> 00:40:45,275 Lemonis: It looks totally different. 1074 00:40:45,310 --> 00:40:46,476 Tony: It looks totally different. 1075 00:40:46,511 --> 00:40:47,544 I'm so excited. 1076 00:40:47,579 --> 00:40:49,212 This is the Yeti Outpost. 1077 00:40:49,247 --> 00:40:51,147 Lemonis: This is cool. People are going to love this. 1078 00:40:51,183 --> 00:40:52,482 Tony: Yeah, we have the grass jelly drinks. 1079 00:40:52,517 --> 00:40:53,750 These are more like, you know, 1080 00:40:53,785 --> 00:40:55,318 some of the Japanese coffee drinks. 1081 00:40:55,353 --> 00:40:59,022 We have our Pocky shelf, Japanese and Korean candy. 1082 00:40:59,057 --> 00:41:00,423 Lemonis: Can I try a black sesame? 1083 00:41:00,459 --> 00:41:01,791 Carolyn: A black sesame, yeah. 1084 00:41:01,827 --> 00:41:03,393 Lemonis: So in addition to shaved cream, 1085 00:41:03,428 --> 00:41:05,094 Tony also added mochi, 1086 00:41:05,130 --> 00:41:07,931 which is another unique Asian dessert, to the lineup, 1087 00:41:07,966 --> 00:41:10,433 and a real differentiator in the market. 1088 00:41:10,469 --> 00:41:13,403 Not something you see on every street corner in New York. 1089 00:41:16,274 --> 00:41:18,775 Tony: Hey, guys, come on in. How you doing? 1090 00:41:18,810 --> 00:41:20,276 Woman: Oh, I love Pocky! 1091 00:41:20,312 --> 00:41:25,582 ♪♪ 1092 00:41:25,617 --> 00:41:27,217 Ovie: And what would you like? 1093 00:41:27,252 --> 00:41:29,018 Carolyn: We also have a peanut butter sauce here. 1094 00:41:29,054 --> 00:41:31,988 Man: This is really good. 1095 00:41:32,023 --> 00:41:34,123 Lemonis: You ready to take, like, a deep breath? 1096 00:41:34,159 --> 00:41:35,758 Tony: I am. 1097 00:41:35,794 --> 00:41:38,761 I mean, Carolyn and Ovie have really stuck by my side. 1098 00:41:38,797 --> 00:41:42,232 It just, uh -- it makes me really happy because we just -- 1099 00:41:42,267 --> 00:41:46,035 the three of us have put in so much work and it's a -- 1100 00:41:46,071 --> 00:41:48,304 a relief to, you know, really show you 1101 00:41:48,340 --> 00:41:50,106 and have you be proud of this. 1102 00:41:50,141 --> 00:41:52,542 Lemonis: I, honestly, no BS, 1103 00:41:52,577 --> 00:41:54,310 I don't think you missed a trick. 1104 00:41:54,346 --> 00:41:56,079 Tony: Thank you so much, Marcus. 1105 00:41:56,114 --> 00:41:58,715 Lemonis: Tony now has multiple streams of revenue 1106 00:41:58,750 --> 00:42:02,318 for 365 days of success. 1107 00:42:02,354 --> 00:42:05,755 While this location did do $600,000 in its best year, 1108 00:42:05,790 --> 00:42:07,857 with the new products and the new feel, 1109 00:42:07,893 --> 00:42:09,926 this location can get close to a $1 million. 1110 00:42:09,961 --> 00:42:12,295 Tony can now have some balance in his life. 1111 00:42:12,330 --> 00:42:13,997 He can get one concept right. 1112 00:42:14,032 --> 00:42:17,500 And now he can make money and spend time with his family. 1113 00:42:17,536 --> 00:42:19,769 Over time, if this concept works, 1114 00:42:19,804 --> 00:42:21,905 then the possibilities of opening up two 1115 00:42:21,940 --> 00:42:24,107 or three -- no problem. 1116 00:42:24,142 --> 00:42:26,442 Let's see if people want to come try some mochi. 1117 00:42:26,478 --> 00:42:27,677 Tony: Yeah. Lemonis: These folks -- 1118 00:42:27,712 --> 00:42:29,178 talk to them. 1119 00:42:29,214 --> 00:42:32,748 ♪♪