All language subtitles for the.profit.s06e01.hdtv.x264-w4f[eztv]

Lemonis:
Tonight on "The Profit"...

Corey: It's the traditional
New York style

kettle-boiled bagel.
-Lemonis: A master bagel maker

has built three locations
and a big following in Chicago.

The flavor's amazing.

Corey: If it doesn't hurt here
from chewing after a while,

it's not real.

Lemonis: But even as he dreams

of expanding
beyond the Windy City...

Corey: I want 10 more.

Lemonis: ...his business
is growing stale.

That store should do
$2.5 million, not $1.5 million.

Owner Corey Kaplan has
a long history in the industry

and an ego to match.

Corey: They didn't even know
how to say bagel in Chicago

until I got there.

Lemonis: Yet his branding
is uninspired.

It looks old
and not reflective of you.

His product mix
is all over the place.

Why have capers?

And while he and his wife
have overcome

great challenges together...

Corey: We have five children.
Two of them are in heaven.

Lemonis: ...he struggles with
giving her a say in the company.

Laurie, this is your project...
-Corey: No.

Lemonis: If I can't push him
to rise to the occasion...

Corey: I'm not prepared to say,

"Some new guy came in,
now it's different."

Lemonis: ...his grand plans
will never get off the ground.

My name is Marcus Lemonis,

and I risk my own money
to save struggling businesses.

We're not gonna wake up
every morning

wondering if we have a job.

We're gonna wake up
every morning

wondering how many jobs
we have to do.

It's not always pretty.

Everything's gonna change.
Everything.

But I do it to save jobs,
and I do it to make money.

This...
Let's go to work.

...is "The Profit."

♪♪

One of the things that appeals
to me about NYC Bagel Deli

is that people know it.

It's been around a long time.
-Carlos: Two dozen?

Corey: A dozen and a half,
Carlos.

Carlos:
All right, dozen and a half.

Corey: Yeah, buddy.

Lemonis: But I also know
that bagels

have unbelievable margins.

Carlos: Thank you.
We appreciate it.

-Woman: Thank you.
-Carlos: Gentlemen!

Men: Thank you!

Lemonis: So I'm meeting up
with the owners

at their North Avenue location
to learn more.

-Corey: [ Chuckling ] Hey!
-Lemonis: Hey. I'm Marcus.

Corey: I know who you are.
I'm Corey.

It's nice to meet you.
-Lemonis: Nice to meet you.

Corey: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
This is my wife.

Lemonis: How are you?

Nice to meet you.
You're the boss?

Corey: That's Laurie,
she's a hugger.

Lemonis: Who's the boss?

Laurie: He is the boss.

He's the main --
he's the main...

-Corey: I don't know.
-Laurie: Yes.

-Lemonis: Hi. How are you?
-Carlos: Hey. How are you?

Lemonis: Good. What are the
types of bagels that you have?

Carlos: 13 kind of bagels,
you can show them behind me.

Lemonis: I'm gonna have
everything bagel.

What do you sell one bagel for?
-Corey: $1.29.

Lemonis: What does it cost
to make one bagel?

Corey: About 10 cents.

-Lemonis: In materials?
-Corey: In materials.

Lemonis:
And another 10 in labor?

Corey: Exactly.

Lemonis: So that's part
of the beauty

of being in this business.
-Corey: Of course.

Lemonis: It's high margin.
Take your half.

Corey: Okay, thanks.

Laurie: [ Laughs ]

Man: What can I get for you
today?

Laurie: Now, I have a bagel
every single day.

Corey: It's a good bagel.

If it doesn't hurt here
from chewing after a while,

it's not real.

Lemonis:
The flavor's amazing.

I love the size.
I love the weight.

It's the consistency.
It's a little overcooked.

Corey: In your opinion.

I mean, we've been here
for a while.

19 years.
We're doing something right.

People wait on line to get 'em.

I don't think I'm gonna change
the recipe just because you said

it's -- You know what I mean?

In all fairness.

Lemonis: When you invest
in a business,

you're investing in product,
you're investing in process,

but you're first and foremost
investing in people.

Some are collaborative,
and some are less so.

I don't know if Corey's open
to change,

but I'm gonna keep pushing
until we find out.

♪♪

How do you think about
what you put on here?

Corey: The fruit started off
banana, orange, apple...

Lemonis: You sell a lot of it?

Corey: We do sell small amounts.

Lemonis: The front counter
was stacked so high.

It was bananas and cookies.

I couldn't even see
anybody's face.

And by the way, none of
the items were New York items.

I don't even see
cheesecake here.

So this is -- I should not think
about this as like

a New York traditional deli.
-Corey: Yeah.

Lemonis: Don't pay attention
to New York City Bagel Deli?

Why have Italian capers?

Corey: You use probably
a couple cases a week

with your lox sandwich.

So the rest of 'em sit here.

We need one, hey,
dump it in the thing.

But I can't tell you the last
time we sold one of these.

Lemonis: Look,
bagels have amazing margins,

but it's the ancillary products
that will actually build

on to the size of the order
if the products that are there

are things that people
actually want to buy.

So what are the locations?
We're on North Avenue.

Corey: This is the original.

And then the second one,
which is Dearborn --

Dearborn and Grant,
and the Willis Tower.

Lemonis: Like a kiosk?

Corey: Yeah, a little bit more
than a kiosk, but...

-Lemonis: Not a full store.
-Corey: Not a full store.

Lemonis: And then the revenue
out of this location?

Corey: This is good for about
$95,000, $100,000 a month.

-Lemonis: And Dearborn?
-Corey: About the same.

Lemonis: And Willis?

Corey: $50,000 a month.
I want 10 more of them.

-Lemonis: [ Laughing ] Yeah.
-Corey: Yeah.

Lemonis: The fact
that the Dearborn

and the North Avenue location

generate over
$100,000 a month

is pretty awesome.

I'm impressed
that he's been able

to accomplish that number
with what I see.

It tells me that the potential
is massive.

You're gonna teach me today
how to make a bagel, right?

Corey: Right now
I'm gonna show you.

Look, here. Come on.
-Lemonis: Let's go!

Man: Let's do it.

Lemonis: Everybody's fired up
about bagels.

-Man: Let's do it.
-Corey: So this the mixer.

It's giving you the consistency
that will allow it

to run through
the bagel machine.

Go, look,
right into that hopper. Go.

Lemonis: I mean, it's not light.

Corey: Go. throw it.
There you go.

Okay, start.

[ Machine whirs ]

There we go.

It will go back and forth,

and it will cut
4-ounce pieces of dough.

It's gonna run through here,

and it's gonna be formed
into a bagel.

Lemonis: How long you been
doing this?

Neto: 16 years.

-Lemonis: Here?
-Neto: Yeah.

-Lemonis: With him?
-Neto: Yeah.

I was taught by a gentleman

who was a fourth-generation
bagel maker.

Lemonis: All right, back out.
Let me show you how to do this.

Corey: Look at this.
We got a replacement for you.

Lemonis: They look
more like donuts.

Holy [bleep]

They're moving too fast!
Here, I'll try to keep them --

Corey: Now what are we gonna do?
There's too many coming out.

Now to shut the machine!

Shut it down.
Shut it down.

Neto: There you go.
There you go.

Corey: Shut it down.
There you go. All right.

Now, get 'em into the water.

The water's boiling,
and then we're stirring them up.

You want to try it?
-Lemonis: Yeah.

Corey: This is actually going
to cook the outside,

which gives us the hard outside,
soft inside.

It's the traditional New York
style kettle-boiled bagel.

And now you're gonna take
as many as you can,

walk 'em right over here,
and dump 'em right here.

There you go. Dump 'em there,
and let's seed them.

Go ahead.
Seed 'em.

And these bagels
are put into the oven.

Nice and easy.

If we went to go look
at this bagel

and this bagel at the end
didn't look good

because it was maybe sideways,

it's up to us
to throw it away...

Lemonis: Why aren't you making
bagel chips out of all of 'em?

-Laurie: Amen. Thank you.
-Lemonis: You agree with that?

Laurie: Oh, we argue about it
all the time.

Laurie: I would love bagel chips
to be mass produced.

Lemonis: Why are you
arguing about it?

Corey: Because there's a lot
more involved.

You got to cut 'em,
you got to put 'em in

and bake 'em,
you got to bag 'em.

Lemonis: Her point is
is that she has an idea

and she's just trying to...
-Corey: Oh, yeah.

Lemonis: We don't really need
him for the bagel chips, do we?

Laurie: The bagel chips
is a business of its own.

Lemonis: It could be
Laurie's Bagel Chips.

Laurie: It would be
its own business.

-Corey: Laurie and Marcus.
-Lemonis: No, Laurie's is fine.

Corey: No, no,
take her with you.

Go ahead.
Laurie and Marcus.

Laurie: I don't speak when
you're speaking, so don't speak.

Okay.

Lemonis: The fact that Corey
doesn't see

the value of reusing
existing product

to make more money

just tells me that
if it's not his idea,

it's not gonna go anywhere.

Let's go to Dearborn.
-Corey: Yeah, okay.

♪♪

♪♪

Lemonis: Walking up
to the second location,

the first thing I notice
is this lame,

dinky awning that, by the way,

doesn't even match
the first location,

and looks like it was here
25 years ago.

How you doing?
-Corey: Good. How are you?

Lemonis: Good.

Corey: What's going on?

Lemonis:
This is a lot bigger.

Corey:
It's a little different.

Lemonis: Do you mind putting
your coat on for a second?

-Corey: Of course.
-Lemonis: Okay.

I want to just go outside.
-Corey: Of course.

[ Horn honks ]

Lemonis: On a scale of 1 to 10,

and this is just me asking,

how would you rate your façade,
the light, the openness?

Corey: I see what you're saying.
A zero probably.

-Lemonis: Yeah, it's dark.
-Corey: I'm glad you asked.

Lemonis: It looks old
and not reflective of you

because, I mean, you're --

-Corey: Aah! I got you.
-Lemonis: Yeah.

Do that again.
-Corey: Ah!

Lemonis: [ Chuckles ] Okay.

Corey: So look.
Let me show you something.

This is the cooler.
-Lemonis: Okay.

Corey: So I'll fill this up.

Lemonis: But there's no
mixing machine.

Corey: Correct.

Lemonis: So where is the dough
coming from?

Corey: The other store --
after I leave you tonight,

I'm gonna go over there,
me personally,

put the racks of bagels
that were made today

in the truck,
bring 'em over here.

Lemonis: You could do that
over here, but you don't?

Corey: Yeah, and is it
really cost effective

to have another machine
and another staff?

And then you don't have
the consistency.

Lemonis: If Corey wants
to grow this business,

he's not gonna be able to prep,
boil, and proof mass production

out of the very small kitchen
on North Avenue.

Ultimately what this business
needs is a commissary model --

A larger space that allows for
the storage of raw materials,

the prep of the dough,
the boiling of the product,

and the proofing of the product.

And then it could be transported
to individual locations

in the Chicagoland area,

and the final baking process
can happen there.

The one big
financial advantage to that

is as he opens
additional locations,

they don't need to be as big.

♪♪

I'm Marcus.
-Ray: Hi. Ray.

-Lemonis: Nice to meet you.
-Ray: Nice to meet you, as well.

Lemonis: Is Corey easy
to work with?

Ray: He's a good man.

Knowing the type of guy he is
and how kind he is,

if you just break it down to him

and let him know
you need some help,

he's the first one
that wants to help.

He'd make sure that the guys
here are happy

and they make enough money
to take home for their family,

and he might give them
a little extra hours,

and that's what
makes him special.

If you're not inside the doors
with him,

you'll never understand.

Lemonis: Can the three of us
sit down for a few minutes?

Corey: Sure.

Lemonis: I always want
to understand

the people side of it first.

I mean, why are you
in this business?

What's your motivation?

Corey: This is all I really
have ever done.

I started working
at a bagel place

that my father was working at
in the early '80s in New Jersey.

And we went to Florida
with the first store

and then even the second store.

Then I met Laurie.

From Florida to here --

we -- we have five children,
two of them are in heaven.

They had
polycystic kidney disease,

and basically it's a disease
that captures

and covers your organs
with cysts.

But we came here because
they promised us

that there was a better chance
to be on a list for transplant.

So we literally left
the house and the businesses.

We rented a house here
immediately.

Lemonis: How old were they
when all this was happening?

Corey: My daughter was 19 months
when she passed,

and my son only made it
a couple days, so.

-Lemonis: I'm sorry.
-Corey: Yeah, no, it's sad.

It's horrible, you know?
-Lemonis: I'm really sorry.

Lemonis: And your son,
what was his name?

-Laurie: Corey.
And my daughter was Corri.

Lemonis: How'd you survive that?
I can't even imagine that.

Laurie: [ Voice breaking ]
When a child dies,

there's like a 90 percent chance
of people divorcing and it...

-Corey: It made us stronger.
-Laurie: ...brought us closer.

Corey: Most people
would have quit,

but we had three other kids.

Lemonis: Candidly,
I am not a parent,

and so I don't know
what that feels like

and can't even begin
to imagine it.

But even if I tried to imagine,

I don't know
that I could push through,

and I give them credit for that.

If I couldn't meet him
and you were gonna try

to describe him to me,
how would you describe him?

Laurie: Lovable,

larger than life,
very generous, kind, loyal.

-Lemonis: Great husband?
-Laurie: Yes.

-Lemonis: Great father?
-Laurie: Yes.

-Lemonis: Good boss?
-Laurie: Definitely.

♪♪

-Lemonis: Nice to see you.
-Laurie: Hi.

Good to see you.
-Corey: What's up, boss?

Lemonis: My man,
what's happening?

-Corey: Good to see you, man.
-Lemonis: Good seeing you.

What is this chain
you're wearing?

Corey: It's a whole
solid gold bagel

with diamonds for the salt.

Lemonis: Where'd you get that?

Corey: Laurie got it for me
25 years ago.

Lemonis: That's how long
you've been in the business?

Corey:
Probably longer than that.

Laurie:
You've been in the business
since the day you were born.

Come on. It's in your blood.
-Corey: Probably.

Lemonis: You're a bagel man
through and through.

Corey: That's where it started.

Originally, the stores were
Corey's Bagels.

Laurie: Which I like better
than NYC, but that's okay.

Corey: But I'm gonna come back
to that, okay?

Corey's Bagels for years
and years and years.

When we came here,
it was New York Bagel Deli,

which I'd purchased
from a friend of mine.

The name came with it.

Lemonis:
You bought one location.

-Corey: I bought one location.
-Lemonis: And then

you duplicated it
and put it up again.

Why didn't you just
call it Corey's?

Corey: I left well enough alone

because it already had a --
you know, it had a presence.

Laurie:
I wanted it to be Corey's.

Corey: Laurie, stop.

Lemonis: Now, don't do that
to her. Would you stop?

Did you bring your financials?
-Corey: I did.

-Lemonis: Can we look over 'em?
-Corey: Of course.

Lemonis: Okay.

North Avenue -- 2015,

$1,296,000 in revenue,
made $152,000.

In 2016, $1,335,000 in revenue,
$181,000 in profit.

Let's look over at Dearborn,
which is the second location.

That's the larger location.

So in 2015, $1,255,000,
made $191,000.

2016, $1,293,000 in revenue,
made $210,000.

Dearborn and North Avenues...
-Corey: Yes.

Lemonis: ...both making money,
and the Willis location?

Corey: Well, it's just a pop up.

Lemonis: So we'll just focus
on these two.

Corey: I agree.

Lemonis:
And when I look at Dearborn,
I say to myself,

"How much more revenue
can be drawn through there?

How do I get promotional
to drive traffic in?

How do I make sure
that when people come in,

I raise the average order?"

that store should do
$2.5 million.

-Laurie: Easily.
-Lemonis: Not $1.5 million.

But sometimes I meet people
that say,

"We can't keep the lights on,"

and we help them
keep the lights on.

In this case, it's about growth,
not about survival.

So my offer is $200,000
for 25 percent.

Corey: A couple hundred
thousand dollars

is not gonna make
a difference here where we are.

We're in a very good position
right now with the stores.

I'm very happy.

And then honestly, I have
to listen to somebody else

for a couple hundred grand.

I mean, you're making that face,
but isn't that true?

You're gonna put money in
and not just gonna sit back.

We're gonna go
at things together.

Laurie: But anything he says
would be an asset.

Corey: Well, I mean, again...

Lemonis: I know where the market
is in Chicago for this product.

I know how poorly branded
the business is.

I know what loose ends exist
in the business.

I know how poorly merchandised
it is.

I know where the margins
should be.

Corey: I just don't know.
I'm still thinking.

I'm just being honest with you.

Lemonis: What are you
thinking about?

Corey: You're not just gonna say
$200,000

and I'm not getting anything.

What am I getting?

You're not just
putting that in to say,

"Okay, this is
what we're gonna do."

I want to hear the rest of it.
I want to see what all...

Lemonis: Oh,
you want my sales pitch?

Corey:
I want your sales pitch.

Lemonis: I'm not selling you
on anything.

But I'm not opposed
to putting in more money.

Sometimes if the business
is really working,

I may fund up to two times,

even three times the amount
of the original deal.

Corey:
But I'm in a position right now

where I have
to really weigh it out,

and there's just a lot more
that goes into it.

Lemonis: $200,000
for 25 percent.

-Corey: And I said, "No."
-Lemonis: Okay.

So what's your counter?

Corey: We can't decide that
at the coffee shop.

That, we can't.

Lemonis: So, a week from now,
you're gonna know more?

What are you gonna know
differently?

-Corey: I don't know.
-Lemonis: Until we start

going to work,
how the hell are you gonna know?

Corey: I don't know.

Lemonis: I don't think
that either of us

are going to come
to a deal tonight

that you're gonna live with.

Do you want to determine it now?
You said you don't want to.

Corey: I don't.

Lemonis: It's like, "Okay."
Nice meeting you.

Corey: You, as well, sir.

Pleasure and honor.
Honestly, I mean that.

Thank you for your time.

♪♪

[ Door closes ]

Lemonis:
If your business is in trouble

and you need my help,
log on to...

Lemonis:
I don't think that either of us

are going to come
to a deal tonight.

Nice meeting you.
-Corey: You, as well, sir.

♪♪

[ Door closes ]

♪♪

Laurie: I don't think you heard
a word he said.

You didn't hear a word he said.

♪♪

Lemonis: To be honest with you,
I never thought

I'd hear from Corey again,
but a week after we met,

I got a call from him
asking me if we could meet.

Corey: I've asked you to call me
because, first of all,

I mean,
without kissing your butt,

I think you're wonderful
with whatever you do.

I've looked you up,
I've learned a lot about you.

I think what you do
to help people is awesome.

Lemonis: So I drove out
to one of the suburbs of Chicago

and met him at his warehouse.

How you doin', my man?
-Corey: Good, how are you?

-Lemonis: Good to see you.
-Corey: It's great to see you.

Lemonis: I wanted to hear
what he had to say.

We both left Red Beard
that night

a little confused
about what happened,

and you've had a chance
to think.

So for me, if you want to have
this brand mean something,

it has to really be
a transformation.

-Corey: Okay.
-Lemonis: And I really like you.

You're fun to be around.
-Corey: Yeah. Thank you.

-Lemonis: Okay.
-Laurie: Wow.

Lemonis:
And at the end of the day,

you love your family
and you love your kids and you

love the history so much...
-Laurie: That's super sweet.

Lemonis: ...that that is really
what needs to be celebrated.

Corey: Wow.

Lemonis: And I think you guys
should change your name

back to Corey's Bagels

because I think
it's a better name.

Corey: We don't have to --
the sign doesn't

have to say Corey's Bagels.

Lemonis: New York City
Bagel Deli is generic.

In order to scale the business,

it needs to have an identity
that is really marketable here.

Corey: So look,
Corey's Bagels, look.

That's what it was in Florida.

I don't want it again.
Laurie does.

Lemonis: Do you want
to move forward?

Corey: I do want
to move forward.

My gut says a business
with Marcus Lemonis

is a better business
than without.

Lemonis: Okay.
So, my offer was $200,000

for 25 percent,
and I had an $800,000 valuation.

Corey: I've put the valuation
at $1.2 million.

Lemonis: Okay.
So let's meet in the middle.

-Corey: At a million.
-Lemonis: Yep.

So now, every $100,000
represents 10 percent.

Corey: 10 percent,
but I want to understand

if you need to have
a certain percentage.

Laurie: I'm gonna steal Marcus'
jacket because I'm freezing.

Lemonis: Here, here, here.
Corey: Look at this.

Laurie: How is everyone like
standing around?

Corey: Look at this.

And I'm just gonna reiterate
for the same question...

-Lemonis: Yes, sir.
-Corey: ...I want you involved

at a percentage
that's gonna make you as...

Lemonis: Pick a number,
and I'll react to it.

♪♪

Corey: 25 percent, $250,000.

Lemonis: Does that work for you?

-Corey: It works.
-Lemonis: Great.

Corey: All right.
Welcome aboard.

-Lemonis: We got a deal.
-Corey: Let's go to work.

♪♪

All right, so, guys,
as you guys know

we have great months,
we have okay months,

but in order to go to the next
level, we need to redo things.

And one of the big things
that we wanted to do,

we're gonna start
to make bagel chips.

Lemonis: Corey, you know
this is actually --

this is actually what I do.

Corey:
Well, then go ahead, sir.

Lemonis: Okay.
My name is Marcus Lemonis.

And my job is truly to get in
and help small businesses.

In some cases,
the businesses are struggling.

In other cases, they're doing
just fine, like this place.

Place makes good money...
-Corey: Doing well.

Lemonis: ...the staff is
amazing, the product's good,

but does everybody agree
that it could get better?

-Man: Yes.
-Man #2: Yeah, definitely.

Lemonis: And so I agreed
to invest $250,000

to become a partner
in the business.

One of the things that we want
to do is bring

more authentic
New York style products.

We want to be different
than everybody else.

It's the best bagel place,

but we don't just want
to just be a bagel place.

And also, the name of the store
is definitely changing.

Corey: Oh. Oh.

Lemonis: In order to really
scale this business,

I have a number of initiatives
that I want to put in place.

First and foremost, I want
to develop one concept store

that really accounts for a
better process for the customer

and a higher register ring
for the company.

That's gonna be
the Dearborn location.

Number two, I want to understand

how this company's gonna grow
by developing a commissary model

that allows the business to open

more locations and wholesale.

I also want to work with Laurie

to develop the bagel chips.

And most importantly,
I want to bring in

New York City-based products

so that we really
can feel authentic.

What do you guys think
about what's happening?

Lamale: Excited.
I'm ready to get it started,

get it moving,
and up and running.

Lemonis: I say we get to work.
Let's get back to work.

Corey: Let's do it.
Let's rock and roll.

Lemonis: The Kaplans and I
have a ton of work to do,

and I don't want to waste
any time getting started.

One of the most popular things

when I go to a bagel shop
is bagel chips.

And so Laurie and I
are gonna develop them.

First, we're gonna decide how
thinly they should be sliced.

Which stack do you like?

Laurie: This one.

Corey: I like this one.

Lemonis: I hope that Corey will
let Laurie take the lead here.

But clearly,
I was overly optimistic.

You know what, let's make
a couple small bagels.

Corey: We choose this for a true
traditional bagel chip.

Lemonis: Let's do
three or four minis.

-Corey: No, don't do that.
-Laurie: No?

Corey: That's very...

Lemonis: How would you like
to do this?

I'm gonna follow your lead.

Laurie: Okay, so let's do
the mini bagels.

♪♪

They look really good, too.

Cheers.

[ Bagel chips crunch ]

-Lemonis: They're good.
-Laurie: That is delicious.

Lemonis: You're gonna need
to come back to me and say,

"It costs this much to make
the full-size bagel,

this much
to make the mini bagel."

Our next task is meeting
with the contractor

to discuss
the Dearborn renovation.

Everything generating revenue
has to happen

from this wall to this wall.

We need new light fixtures,

gonna brighten the place up,
paint it,

put the floor in,
build the cabinetry.

In 10 days, we want everything
to look jazzy new.

It's a tight schedule,
but I feel like

getting this blueprint right
gives us

the ability to launch
new locations.

♪♪

And finally, I want to set up
Corey and Laurie

with designers to work
on a new logo and new signage.

So I'm bringing them
to Kieffer & Co.,

a company that makes signs

for some of the biggest
businesses in America.

NYC Bagel and Deli,

there's probably one
in every city.

There's nothing that makes me
want to go there today.

Corey: If a customer
sees a change,

they're wondering
what else changed.

They just know NYC Bagel Deli.

Tyler: Do we have a solid name
that we're looking at, then?

Lemonis: So, we're --
we want "Corey's" in the name,

so let's establish that.
-Tyler: Right.

Lemonis: Corey may not like
the idea of changing the name,

but it has to happen.

Corey, I want you to find
a caricature person like you see

at, like, a carnival...
-Corey: Yeah.

Lemonis: You guys have
some logo work to do.

[ Birds chirping ]

♪♪

Lemonis: The sole purpose
of coming here

is to really start to put
thought around the proper way

to package the bagel chips.
-Corey: Okay.

Lemonis: Now that we've started
developing the bagel chips,

it's time to figure out
how we're gonna package them.

So I'm taking Corey and Laurie
to a local packaging company

that specializes in making
pouches for food companies.

♪♪

Corey: So do different lines
do different things,

like some have a gusset,
some don't,

because that's been
my biggest thing

with having that bagel stand up.
-Bob: Yes.

Corey: Biggest flaw with...

Lemonis:
So this is important to me

that this is your product.

And so, this is your thing,
not his thing.

It's important to tell him.
-Corey: ...retailer, wholesaler,

how it's gonna end up.
-Bob: Exactly, so...

Corey: And easy resealing.

-Bob: Well it's zippered. Right.
-Corey: Zippered.

Laurie: Do you do
any type of chip now?

Bob: Yeah, we've done pouches
for pita chips, bagel chips.

Laurie: Okay, so they're always

with, like,
a little foil on the inside.

Bob: Yes, it's polyester --
metallized polyester.

-Laurie: Okay.
-Corey: On the inside

of the bag, is you have a choice

if it's foil
or if it's different material?

Bob: You do.
You do have a choice.

Laurie: Right.
I just asked him that.

Corey: Oh, okay,
I wasn't listening.

Lemonis: The bagel chips
are really her thing.

He's not as involved in that
even though he likes

to be involved
in every single thing.

And so this is really
a learning experience for her

on what exactly
it takes to execute.

Every time Laurie
has asked a question,

Corey always feels the need
to come in and step over her.

And in order
for this business to grow,

she's gonna have to be
an active participant,

and he's gonna have to be quiet.

Bob: So, the different
style options.

Something like this.

This is your stand-up
bottom gusset pouch.

Or we would do
a side gusset pouch

with more of
a flat-style bottom.

Lemonis: Bob, we're just
gonna chat for a minute.

So we'll see you on the way out.
-Bob: Okay. Great.

-Lemonis: Thank you so much.
-Corey: Thank you, Bob.

Laurie: Thank you so much
for everything. Thank you.

Lemonis: So what is
the name of the bagel chips

specifically going to be?

Laurie: Corey's Bagel Chips.

Instead of NYC Bagel Deli,

even thought there's nothing
against NYC Bagel Deli.

Corey: So why would
you change it now?

Laurie: You're the originator
of the bagels.

Corey: The idea behind it
was calling it New York,

and that's what
this is gonna be.

Laurie: No. Corey's.
I love that name.

You're telling me to drive,
I'm driving.

-Lemonis: I'm following you.
-Laurie: Okay.

Corey: No.
This is what we're doing.

♪♪

I don't want to take a chance
of losing the reputation,

the Yelp following, the reviews.

I'm not prepared to say,

"Some new guy came in,
and now it's different."

Laurie: Corey's.
I love that name.

Corey: No.
This is what we're doing.

Laurie: I definitely want
the name Corey's Bagels.

Lemonis: Corey,
it's very important

for her to drive this process...

-Corey: Okay.
-Lemonis: ...and to own it.

And Laurie,
he's used to normally

just stepping
in front of everybody

and just solving it.

But this is your project,

and if you let him do it,
he's just gonna do it.

Laurie: I know
because he always --

like, I'll think
something one way,

and then he'll say the other
way, and it's always that way.

Lemonis: And so I don't want to
move forward with bagel chips

if he's gonna drive it.

-Laurie: Okay.
-Lemonis: I just don't.

-Corey: You need to drive.
-Laurie: Okay. I will drive.

Lemonis: I invested
in your concept,

and he's got his thing.

If we want to open up
15 of these

and have a hub-and-spoke model

and a commissary
and they're all around Chicago

and you're really, truly
investing millions to do that,

he is not gonna be able
to be distracted by bagel chips.

He's just not.

Corey: I agree with
everything you're saying.

Let's -- You need
to take control.

-Laurie: Okay.
-Corey: Because your ideas

behind the scenes and at home

and in the stores
are very vibrant,

so let's let you take control.
-Laurie: Okay.

Corey: Let's do that
because it is your idea,

and it is your baby.

-Laurie: Okay.
-Lemonis: Let's boogie.

Laurie: All righty.

♪♪

Lemonis: Okay, so the reason

I brought you guys
to Highland Park...

-Corey: Okay.
-Lemonis: ...is because

I want to show you something.
-Corey: Okay. Sure.

Lemonis: I'm taking Corey
and Laurie to Highland Park

where I own a big warehouse.

And today, I'm using it
to sell off-price merchandise

in the fashion industry,

but I've always had
bigger plans for it,

and I think this business
may be a perfect fit.

This is just
an overflow warehouse

that I use
to bring things in and out

and process returns
from online businesses here.

Corey: Wow.
Beautiful building.

Lemonis: Yeah,
isn't it gorgeous?

It'd make a really cool
bagel factory.

Corey: It would.

-Laurie: Are you kidding me?
-Lemonis: No.

-Laurie: Am I allowed to scream?
-Lemonis: You can scream.

Laurie: Because I'm being
serious, it would be amazing.

Lemonis: My idea
for this building

is to build a big commissary --
bagel factory, bagel chips --

the ability to do
all of it here -- bag it.

They're gonna start ripping up
the floor next Friday.

-Corey: Wow.
-Lemonis: The commissary

will not only support
additional new locations,

but can support
a wholesale market, as well.

And so if I end up putting more
money into the commissary

or more money into this deal,

well, it's gonna be money
well spent.

The work will take close
to six months to complete,

but it's gonna be well worth it.

The reason I was excited
about this is for two people

who do love each other
very much,

this is an opportunity
to do something from scratch

and the two of you
craft it together.

Corey: You know,
I think it's a wonderful fit.

Lemonis: Your voice
has to be heard.

Laurie: Mm-hmm.

Corey: And she has been in it
since day one,

and she has been doing
a lot of the things

behind the scenes
that doesn't get,

you know, really the gratitude
that it deserves.

Lemonis: I know, but it requires
you to actually do it together.

-Corey: That's fantastic.
-Lemonis: All right.

Let's get out of here.
-Corey: You the man.

♪♪

Lemonis: So what do we have?

Corey: All right, so, Laurie,
this is your presentation. Go.

Laurie: I went,
and I did what you said to do.

Lemonis: I'm meeting with Laurie
to go over

the work I asked her
to do on the bagel chips.

So for a 6-ounce bag
of bagel chips,

it costs you $0.55.
-Laurie: Mm-hmm.

Lemonis: I am blown away
by how good a job you did.

How's the artwork
coming for Corey's?

Corey: So we have this

as a very,
very, very preliminary drawing.

But here's my concern --

what is Corey's,
and who the hell is Corey?

I don't know that
the customer's gonna know that.

If I change the name,
I may think twice,

if I'm that customer,
about coming in.

What happened to the other guy?

The store has a huge clientele,

and it's denoted
by the NYC name.

We never, ever had
an idea of changing the name.

I love that it's my name,
but in all seriousness,

I don't want to take a chance
of losing the reputation,

the Yelp following,
the reviews of what we have.

I have to get rid of all
the wraps on the vehicles.

I have to get rid
of all the T-shirts.

I have to relicense everything,
reinspect,

new Instagram pages,
new Facebook, new Twitter.

I'm not prepared to say,
"Some new guy came in,

changed the name,
and now it's different,"

and I must stand
very firm on that.

♪♪

I think our concept
would work here.

Great spot, window's beautiful,
front of the house is great.

I love where it is.
-Lemonis: I don't.

It's crickets. This location
scares the [bleep] out of me.

Corey: I'm not prepared to say,
"Some new guy came in,

changed the name,
and now it's different,"

and I must stand very firm
on that.

Lemonis: It doesn't take a lot

to rewrap vehicles
and get new T-shirts.

Corey: I get that,
but what about the name?

You're picking on the
little things, the big thing...

Lemonis: I have been
in multiple cities

in the last three months
since I've met you,

and I see a New York City Bagel
on every street corner.

There's another New York City
Bagel here in Chicago.

Corey:
Not a New York City Bagel.

-Lemonis: What is it called?
-Corey: New York Bagel.

Lemonis: Oh, I'm sorry,
I forgot the "C."

-Corey: That's correct.
-Laurie: Wait, wait, wait.

-Corey: The "C."
-Lemonis: And the likelihood

of confusion is zero.

Do people ever walk in
and say to you, "Oh, I went

to your place in Skokie"?
-Corey: They do.

Lemonis: Do they ever go
to that place and say, "I went

to your place on Dearborn"?
-Corey: They do.

Lemonis: Great. Do they ever
put reviews on there

and you're like,
"That's not us"?

-Corey: They do.
-Laurie: Right.

Lemonis: I don't want to spend
my money and your money

and your money
to build the brand in a market

that somebody else
is gonna draft off.

I don't like the generic nature
of the current name

and its lack of specificity
or something special,

and I feel like there's
some underbelly here

to why he's resisting.

I still don't understand
why Corey's disappeared.

You had built years and years...

-Corey: To building the brand.
-Lemonis: ...of building

the brand,
and then you abandoned it

when you bought the business
called NYC Bagel Deli.

Be honest -- is the reason
you didn't bring Corey's back

because that was the kids' name,

because it was just too much
to deal with?

Corey: I never thought of it
till you just said it,

but yeah, you might
be on to something.

It clearly affects me every day.

Date of birth, date of death,
everything.

Lemonis: If Corey doesn't
get his mind

around this name change,

I think it could really
hamper my investment.

If it truly is a roadblock
for him

because it ties back
to his children,

it could be what's
potentially causing him

to react the way
he does all the time,

including how he talks
to Laurie.

I really need you to do
some soul-searching.

-Corey: I will.
-Lemonis: Really think about

if that's your aversion to it.

-Corey: I will.
-Lemonis: All right.

Let's get out of here.
-Corey: Thank you for your time.

Lemonis: Yeah, buddy.

♪♪

So what I want to do
is really understand

your vision for layout here.
-Corey: Okay.

Lemonis: I'm bringing Corey
and Laurie to the site

of the new commissary
in Highland Park.

The most important thing
is for them to really understand

how the customer experience
is gonna work.

What I'm looking to see here is,
people come in,

and we take them
on the bagel journey...

-Corey: Okay.
-Lemonis: ...and they understand

raw materials
and they see the mixer

and they see the kettle.

Laurie: That would be
really cool.

Like a New York marketplace.
-Lemonis: Okay.

And while the work begins,
I'm taking Corey and Laurie

to New York City so we can start
sourcing New York products.

This day is gonna be
very focused

on finding the right
kinds of things

to take back to Chicago.
Corey: Okay.

Lemonis: First stop
is one of my favorites,

Junior's Cheesecake,
and it dates back to the 1950s.

-Alan: I hope you're hungry.
-Laurie: Okay. Wow.

Alan: We're known as having the
best cheesecake, as you know.

Lemonis: What is that,
a cake shake?

-Alan: Yes.
-Corey: Wow, Laurie.

Alan: A black and white
milkshake

with a brownie explosion
cheesecake.

Alan: This is a strawberry
milkshake

with a slice of
strawberry cheesecake.

New York has a certain style.

Lemonis: Adding any of these
products is gonna up our game

in delivering an authentic
New York experience.

Corey: It's a home run.

Lemonis: Our next stop is
Hampton Coffee in Long Island.

Woman: Hi.
Welcome to Hampton Coffee.

-Lemonis: How are you?
-Woman: How are you?

Lemonis: Even though a little
over a year ago

I made an investment in a coffee
company in California,

the important thing was keeping
this particular business

authentic
with New York products.

Oscar: We're doing a very
special blend for you guys.

It's called
Corey and Laurie's blend.

Corey: Wow!
Look at this!

Oscar: It's stronger
but with a lighter roast

mixed together,
it's an even balance

and a delicious cup of coffee
you will have.

Lemonis: Having a special blend
of coffee

that's unique
to our establishment

while adding cheesecakes
from one of New York's

most famous places
increase the likelihood

that somebody would add that
on to their order.

I don't know
that it will raise margins,

but the goal behind
the whole business is,

"How do we grow
the average ticket?"

My man, thank you.

♪♪

Corey asked me to go with him
to check out a new location.

He's gung ho to expand,
and I want to make sure

that we're finding the balance
between good business

and him getting excited about
being the big dog on the park.

Corey: I think our concept
would work here,

but a total different clientele
than the other two locations.

We've never had the opportunity
to be near the train.

Lemonis: Right, but they're
funneling in to go to work

or funneling out
to come to work.

So there's probably four, five,
six waves of traffic.

Corey: I think that
if you're fast,

which is one of the reasons
for the window,

you can get the train traffic.

If you're not, they won't wait.

Lemonis: I mean,
if you look at their menu,

there was donuts, drinks,
and that's it.

-Corey: I love where it is.
-Lemonis: I don't.

What time is it right now?

Corey: Right now,
I've got almost 11:00, 10:45.

Lemonis: It's crickets.

This location scares
the [bleep] out of me.

I think until we figure out
what the look is,

what the feel is,
what the brand name is,

what the process is,

I don't think
we should look at anymore.

Corey: Okay.

Lemonis: Where are you guys
with the branding?

Corey: I have it right here.

It's a lot of the same,

but it's a little bit different,
if that makes sense.

Lemonis: So, is it Corey's
or is it Bagel?

Bagel! Bagel! Bagel!
That's all I see is bagel.

Laurie: Right.
That's what I said.

Corey: So you do not
like the idea...

-Lemonis: Do not. Do not.
-Corey: ...of this?

-Lemonis: No.
-Corey: This was an option

because it showed
a little bit of both.

Lemonis: All you essentially did
was reprint this,

change that from "Chicago's Own"
to "The Famous Corey's,"

and take the website
and change that.

Corey: I'm trying to come up
with something

that will make
a simple statement.

Lemonis: You're so worried

that people are gonna
accuse you of changing.

There was a reason for the name,

and if we've departed
from history, family,

New York City,
then just tell me.

Corey: No, no. No.
I think it should be smaller.

It shouldn't be as predominant
as what we sell.

Lemonis: I think you're wrong.

Look at the sign.

Corey: Thank you.
Just thank you.

Lemonis: This looks awesome.

Can we go inside?

This looks phenomenal.
-Corey: Thank you.

♪♪

Corey: I think it should
be smaller.

It shouldn't be as predominant
as what we sell.

Lemonis: I think you're wrong.

Corey: This is why I've been
frustrated for so long on this.

Lemonis: Come here. Just you
and me for a minute, okay?

Corey: Sure, absolutely.

♪♪

Lemonis: I think that you're
worrying a lot

that people are
gonna think less of you.

Corey: That's
my number-one problem.

Lemonis: And I'm telling you,
people won't think that.

Corey: But I've done something
so long this way

that I've almost become,
"That's the right way."

Lemonis: Stop that.

Corey: I'll stop it today,
but 100 percent...

Lemonis:
Because you literally have --

I'm telling you this, there's
no limit to your potential.

Corey: So it was me
holding me back.

It wasn't everything else.
-Lemonis: Yes. Yes.

They say kids learn when they're
small, they're like sponges.

You have to just be
an adult sponge.

Corey: It's one of the things
I fight all the time.

And I don't know that
until I met you

that I would ever listen
to anyone.

And now I'm seeing through
what you're saying,

through the businesses you have,

through the success
you've had that, yeah,

maybe that's a better idea.

Lemonis: What?

Corey: To be Corey's Bagels.

I couldn't do that before.
-Lemonis: Let's go.

I think it's Corey's
NYC Bagel Deli.

That's the sign on the front
of the building.

Corey: Okay.
I'm grateful, and I love that.

Lemonis: All this stuff
has to be implemented

when the Dearborn location
is renovated.

All the signage,
the whole thing.

-Corey: Okay.
-Lemonis: Let's get out of here.

Come on.
-Laurie: All right.

♪♪

Corey: Hi, Steve. Corey Kaplan.
It's nice to meet you, sir.

Lemonis: Good seeing you again,
buddy.

I got word that the first draft
of samples for the bags

and all the paper products
are ready

so I'm heading over with
the Kaplans to check it out.

Laurie: This is beautiful.

[ Laughs ]
Come on!

It has -- it has the name on it!

This is beautiful.

Corey: This, to me,
and I mean this --

Laurie went crazy
over that bag --

this is a dream come true to me.
-Laurie: This is all a dream.

Corey:
I can now say, I've got my own
coffee thanks to you,

we have our own coffee,
and now I've got my own cup.

This, to me, says,
"You've made it."

Lemonis: It's got celebrating
the past and the kids.

It's got the love piece,

which I know
is important to you.

And it's got
Corey's personality.

Laurie:
[ Voice breaking ] Marcus,
I can't tell you

thank you -- I can't tell you
thank you enough.

It's beautiful.
-Corey: It means a lot.

It does.
It means a lot.

♪♪

♪♪

Lemonis: I couldn't see you
from a mile away.

It was the shoes.

Corey: Oh, my shoes.

What's up?

Laurie: [ Laughs ]

Lemonis: Look at the sign.

This looks awesome.

Walking up to the store,

I feel like it looks like
a totally different business.

It's inviting, it's bright,
it feels energetic.

I like this.

Stand in front of it.
Let me see.

It is pretty good.
-Corey: It's pretty close.

-Laurie: It's awesome.
-Lemonis: Okay.

Can we go inside?
Go ahead.

♪♪

Wow.

Look at that!
-Corey: [ Laughs ]

Lemonis: Can we go inside?
Go ahead.

♪♪

Wow. Look at that!
-Corey: [ Laughs ]

Lemonis:
When I walk in the store,

it looks clean, it's organized,

things are in
their proper place,

and you can actually see

that there's a proper flow
for the customer.

This looks phenomenal.

-Corey: Thank you.
-Lemonis: It doesn't feel

too slick.
-Corey: No.

Lemonis: And it doesn't feel
too chain-like.

It still feels local.

It still feels like the old
place with some refinements.

Corey: Every corner
has attention to detail.

"I Love You Lox."
-Laurie: Amazing.

-Lemonis: Whose idea was that?
-Corey: Laurie's idea,

and Laurie's idea
with the subway tile.

-Laurie: It's beautiful.
-Corey: Laurie's idea

with the lighting, the floor,
the cabinets -- Laurie's idea.

Laurie: On the floor.

Lemonis: The coffee
looks amazing.

Corey:
The coffee is amazing.

That's the Corey Loves Laurie
blend.

Lemonis: Are people buying
the cheesecake?

Corey: Yes.
The biggest thing is they want

to taste it,
so I'm gonna put samples out.

Lemonis: Almost everything
in the store

feels New York themed
and authentic.

How are the bagel chips selling?

Laurie: They're actually --
people are buying two bags.

-Corey: Really.
-Lemonis: So you've really,

like, tripled your revenue.
-Corey: Without a doubt.

We're actually making bagels
to make bagel chips.

Lemonis: Appropriately,

the bagel chips
are now at the forefront.

So are these the new bags?

Corey: These were the samples.

Laurie: Everyone says
this pops out,

and I agree with that.

Lemonis: It's on point
with the brand.

The new sample packaging
for the bagel chips

looks phenomenal.

I mean, we look legit.

So tell me what you did
different. Be honest.

Corey: We adjusted the amount
of boiling time,

and it's giving you a softer,
more user friendly bagel.

Lemonis: They taste
really fantastic.

-Laurie: Right?
-Lemonis: What we now have

is a bagel
that tastes perfect --

hard and crispy on the outside,
soft on the inside.

How long have you
guys been open?

Corey: A week.

Lemonis: What's changed
in revenue,

what's changed
in the average order?

Corey: So the reaction
is off the chain.

Add-on sales are insane.

Results in at least a 10,

sometimes a 15 percent
increase in revenue.

Lemonis: There's a lot
of good news happening

for Corey's Bagels.

Some huge wholesale accounts.

Wouldn't be surprised
if you saw Corey's Bagels

in a lot of stores.

Corey: If I didn't meet you,

we're not as close
as we are right now.

-Lemonis: The two of you?
-Corey: I mean it.

Lemonis: Your ability
to work together,

to listen to each other,

to respect
each other's opinions,

that transformation
was more important to me

than wallpaper and lights.
-Corey: Sure.

You showed me something
that I didn't know in 52 years.

Lemonis: My original investment
of $200,000

is going for the core
operations of the business,

but I'll probably have close
to $2 million in the commissary,

and I expect to get
a separate return on that.

Am I putting a lot of chips
in on this deal? You bet.

Do I think the return
could be a monster return?

Absolutely.

But I notice the biggest
transformation is with him

and how he sees her
as a valuable asset.

These two possess the heart

and the passion
and the work ethic

that every small business owner
in America should have.

♪♪