When my husband Jonas and I started Auntie Anne's in 1988, we never expected or anticipated building an international pretzel franchise. It was the farthest thing from our minds.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I started a deli when I was 19 years old. Kevin O's. The sandwiches at Kevin O's were a little like Subway before Subway - fresh baked bread. My best seller was turkey with cream cheese and artichoke hearts. I just made it up.
Years ago, when I started having this little bit of success as an actor, I got a job on 'VH1's Best Week Ever.' I went back to my mall in New Jersey, which is what I do when I go visit my parents, and I was at a Wetzel's Pretzels. The manager was like, 'I love the show! It's awesome!' and gave me a free pretzel. I was so excited!
If you knew my life and understood where I came from, you would agree that Auntie Anne's, Inc. is a modern day business miracle.
I didn't build Auntie Anne's alone. That would have been impossible. From the very beginning, we had a team around us that was exceptional. Our company was successful because of the dedicated people who worked for us.
I actually didn't grow up in a household that loved Chinese food particularly, and it's not really my go-to food or anything... We were more a pizza family, being from the Chicago area and all.
My mom had Julia Child and 'The Fannie Farmer Cookbook' on top of the refrigerator, and she had a small repertoire of French dishes.
Auntie Anne's is a modern-day business miracle that never should have happened.
I am obsessed with Chinese restaurants. Like many Americans, I first discovered them in my childhood.
When I was 13, I opened my own business called The Awesome Pretzel Company, and my dad helped me build a pretzel cart.
My first words were always about food - I grew up in northern California, and when I was 10 years old, I had my own pretzel cart business.