Focusing on Chicago Jewish Community Landmarks with Josh Zwelling

My thanks all of our special guests. So yesterday, was it yesterday? Two days ago, two days ago when we introduced the Mashiach brothers. We said that we uh are speaking with the most important people in Chicago because of course they have the kosher stand at Wrigley Field. Today we might actually be speaking with someone who uh who can usurp the Messiah boys and actually be referred to as the most important person in Chicago, Illinois. Josh Zwelling, welcome to JM and the AM. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Lift that mic a drop. Just a drop. There you go. Great to have you here. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> What is What do you think? there's somebody here willing to give you the distinction of being the most important person in Chicago, Illinois. >> I don't know. Uh I appreciate that, but uh I don't think that's me. But >> And how does this come about? I'll tell you how it comes about because forget about the fact that you're the chief proprietor at Rosen Blooms Judeaica. A store by the way that has my book, I'm proud to say. And Yehuda Green bought my book in your store. How do you like that? I >> love it. >> Rosen Bloom is officially in West Rogers Park. Skooki, where is it? >> We're in Skooki now. since uh 2010. >> Very nice. But some might say, especially for some reason that people in New York always go crazy about this establishment. Some might say your greater claim to fame is that you are the owner of Emma's. And Emma's what is it called? Emma's Cafe. What's it called? >> Emma's Bagel Cafe. >> Emma's Bagel Cafe. Also Skooki. >> Also Skooki. Right down the block from Rosen Bloom's World of Japan. And for some reason, Emma's has this reputation as being the place, certainly the place for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. That's for sure. But it's like the place if you come to Chicago, you must go to Emma's. How did you get to that point where Emma's became such an important attraction in town? >> Right. So, actually, uh, you know, I'm a co-owner, part owner of both locations and, uh, started off at at Rosen Blooms in, uh, 2018, right? And um Emma's Bagel Cafe uh took over for what was called Bagel Country uh also in uh about 2012 I believe. Um and about 5 six years ago my my partner uh at Rosmo's World of Judica uh brought me into Emma's Bago Cafe uh to join him there. Uh the one thing you did leave out was we've got a great dinner menu as well. Is there a dinner menu? >> There is a dinner menu. We're we're open from uh 6:30 in the morning till 7:30 in the evening. We really uh you know we got people stopping on the way to the airport on the way when they fly in and uh you know as you said uh Emma is the spot. >> It is the spot. The waffles and French toast and a million other items. Everybody craves them for some reason. I'll tell you. You also have very helpful people behind the counter cuz I remember we walked in for the first time and you know like where do you start to order? What do you do? What's good? Uh how does it work? Refills. How does that work? There's a lot of complicated stuff. have a very helpful staff, I must say. >> We try and uh in today's day and age where it's really hard to find good workers, uh we've got employees that have been there for over 20 years, 25 years, some that were there, you know, preceding Emma's and uh we want to make it that uh Hamisha feel and uh they try to be as helpful as they can. >> One of the times we were there, we were served by somebody who was uh a member of the IDF. I think he was like in between stints in the army. That's that's not that's not unusual for you to have people of really different backgrounds, right? >> That's correct. That's correct. >> You never know where they're coming from. >> Never know. >> And then in addition to the 25-y year veterans, I'm sure you have people who are, you know, bouncing in and out as, you know, part-time help. They need need a few extra bucks. They want to they want to help work and all that stuff. Uh Josh Welling is here. We're talking about Emma's Bagel Cafe. So, what's the secret? Why is it that it got to this point? Is it because the food's so great? Like, what what's going on there? Cuz you know that there are establishments with great food that can't become this iconic place. they just never get to that point where people from out of town and from in town feel they've got to gravitate toward there. What's the secret? >> Well, I think it's just, you know, as you said, it's good food. It's good camaraderie. That's the whole thing. >> Uh we do a lot of catering. Um people come in, they come in, they sit. We have people come in and sit and learn, you know, and have karus there over breakfast or or meetings and things like that. >> Oh, so you're the place I need to go to if I want to work for three hours. >> Absolutely. >> Good Wi-Fi or not? >> Great Wi-Fi. >> Oh, boy. You may see me there today. >> We'll be happy to have you. you let us know. Stop by. Rosen was on your way as well. >> Well, there no tables there though for me to sit and work. That I must say. >> We had a whole bunch of tables last week when we were doing love themro. >> Uh probably our busiest time of the year. I would imagine about 25 2600 we love them to the Chicago area to synagogues to shs to places that >> you sold over 2 and a half thousand sets. >> Yeah, absolutely. probably a little bit more. But, uh, we ship all over as well. And, um, I think it's because of the quality, the price. Uh, we have, you know, all of our stuff is checked by Diana first and Rabbi Yasi first and common wash. So, you know, what you're getting is is great stuff. Uh, very interestingly, this year we sent a lot of stuff. People were going to Lakewood and they took RSO and things with them. Not sure why. I think it's probably >> Explain that, huh? >> I think it's because of the price point. I think things are a little bit crazy in that area and uh we're not looking at doing that. We're looking at providing great quality products, kosher products at a reasonable price. That's what the mid the Midwest is all about. >> Do do people like you refuse to answer my famous question of what happens to all the leftover srogan? Is that something you have to refuse publicly to answer or not? >> Because I would I would rather say well there are no leftover, right? But that's not the case cuz you know you're bringing a lot more. So something happens to them just people like you would never discuss it publicly. >> Yeah. You know I think people ask sometimes they they want them for fragrances. Some people different things. Yeah. >> What is six for a dollar after Sukus? >> Yeah. >> Like mathemat. >> That's right. >> Oh boy. Oh boy. And giving away all the secrets of the industry here. I mean my gosh. When do you get your first delivery? You do you get your first delivery? You will love them in August. Like when do you get your first delivery? >> No. So we get them probably like this year, you know, depending on how the calendar works out every year. >> But how many weeks for Sukus? >> So >> it could be Dalia is really when uh I had my little crew of people coming in starting to >> so no one's buying before. >> No, no, no. Got it. You know, >> you know, we have a big thing where people come in Mosium Kipper, right? >> You know, but we we ship obviously, you know, prior to that a little bit to make sure everyone gets their stuff over the country. And most people would say um that Judeaic stores today, mostly because of what's going on online, are very hard to operate in a in a you know, in a in a strong economic fashion. Is there are there successful Judeaic outlets out there? >> So, I think that the stores that are still open are the successful ones, but you know, unfortunately, we see Judeica stores closing throughout the the country um with all the online presence. Unfortunately, you know, we have uh >> But there's still a role for a guy like you. >> Absolutely. You know, we want, you know, we're a a mom and pop shop. You know, we want people to to shop local, you know, we want people to come in and try on that talis to to look at that blow that to blow that chauffeer, to pick up those candlesticks, you know, to flip through that that safer that you're interested in in in looking at. And uh those are all important things. And you know, that's why we uh you know, we're around and we want to be around. And the Rosen Blooms is has been here now 86 years. The letter that I wrote, you know, to all the people that do love Nest Rogan, this was the 86th year. >> I obviously, Malcolm, haven't been there for all of them. But um but it's, you know, it's important, you know, coming from a small community. I know my wife was on the show the other day, Dayton, Ohio. You know, we didn't have kosher restaurants. We didn't have surely didn't have bookstores. >> Did you have a love? We had a lot of them. We probably got them from Rosen Blooms. Um, >> that's probably true. >> But, um, you know, those things are important for for a Jewish community, you know, uh, in the Midwest. And, uh, coming from Dayton, Ohio, and, you know, moving to this larger community, those are things that obviously interested me, uh, because I know the importance of them. >> Here's what we heard was the biggest challenge for Rosen Blooms over the last couple of years. Here's what we heard. uh that when my book was delivered to Rosen Booms, you were not able to handle the long lines out the door um of the people who wanted to purchase it. How did you handle? >> Unfortunately, how you manage is very difficult, you know, with the the permits and things like that and we have people lining up, you know, on the streets and they, you know, they had to have some crowd control. >> I like the fact that you're playing along. Thank you. That's very nice of you. >> So, if I write a second book, you're willing to bring it in? >> Absolutely. We'd love to have you come back and do a signing. >> I'll do a signing at Emma's and Rosa boobs. 100%. >> Come here. I'll slide your coffee cup. >> There you go. >> Anyway, that's how you dealt with that really difficult situation. All right. If you're in Chicago, Rosenlooms Judeica, ask for Josh Dwelling. >> And if you're not in Chicago, alljudeica.com. We've got >> alljudeica.com. >> That's 100%. >> So, Rabbi Mayor's new book that we spoke to him about this morning, that would be available on your website. >> Absolutely. >> All Judeaica.com. And when you're in Chicago, what's the address over at Emma's? Emma's is 9306 Skoi Boulevard. >> Oh, main drag. >> Main drag. And uh Ros and Blooms, like I said, right down the street, 9153 Gross Point Road. >> That's it. Simple as that. Go to Emma, mention the name Nakam Seagull, and they'll do an even better job on your scrambled eggs. How do you like that? Tell them you want the Nam Seagull treatment on your scrambled eggs. >> Fantastic. We We hope to see you there as well, >> when my uncle had the restaurant in Phoenix, he had this thing mentioned, Nah, get a free dessert. He couldn't believe who who would walk in and actually take advantage of that offer. Anyway, that's the story, folks. When you're in Emma, say, "Hey, heard about it on JM and the AM." Simple as that. And uh if you want your bagel toasted, your staff will take care of it. >> Absolutely. >> You know those places that won't toast the bagel for you. Must drive you nuts like it drives me crazy. >> Only in New York. >> It's only in New York. Out of town, especially in the Midwest, they will toast that bagel for you. >> You know what? Uh >> do you serve ice cream in uh in EMS? Do you get a milkshake or not? >> So, we don't have ice cream. We have smoothies and things like that. >> Um, >> what's the most popular smoothie? Do you know? Do you know what what flavor people have? >> Probably the the berry one. Yeah, >> a berry smoothie. Wow. People will have that for breakfast >> all day long. >> And all day long, right? >> All right. There you go. >> Does Emma have a website? >> Emma's is emma's bagel cafe.com. >> That's it. >> Yep. >> Josh, I thank you. >> Thank you so much for having me. It's great seeing you. and uh >> the most important person in Chicago, Illinois until I arrive. >> Yeah, there you go. Thanks so much. >> But I'm leaving soon, so you're going to again be the most important person in Chicago, Illinois. All right. Thanks a lot. >> All right. Thanks so much. See you trip and Mazit of Underbirth on I appreciate that. When I passed Dayton on Saturday night, do you want me to uh >> I don't know what's left there. >> Nothing to be done there, huh? Just wave to the side. That's right. You know, I called Dava from on from the road. >> I heard that. Yeah, absolutely. >> And I thought it was a big deal and she was like, I don't think it's that big of a deal, but all right. Anyway, there you go. All right, Josh Dwelling, everybody. Uh, one of the most important people in the Chicago, Illinois. More coming up as we begin to wrap up a Thursday morning edition live here at JM in the A.M.