If you’re cruising through West LA and need a treat, the move isn't a fancy boutique—it's a gas station. Zooies, located in Cheviot Hills, has built a cult following for its "next-level elite" cookies, and the backstory is pure business efficiency.
The Gas Station Hustle
Founder Arezou Appel didn't want to deal with the nightmare overhead of a traditional storefront. Since her husband, Jeff Appel, already owned the gas station, they turned a section of the food mart into a bakery. This location hack is the secret sauce for their pricing; by cutting out the high rent, they’ve managed to keep costs to about $4 per cookie on average.
“Being able to be in a gas station and taking advantage of this side of the food mart and gas station has helped us to keep the prices low,” Appel said.
Scaling the Menu
What started as a hobby for her family nine years ago has evolved into a massive operation. Zooies now boasts around 65 different options, including vegan, gluten-free, paleo, and refined-sugar-free varieties. The fan favorites? The Brown Butter Chocolate Chip and the Gooie cookies. The process is high-key precise, with ingredients weighed in grams and chocolate chunks hand-cut to ensure that perfect crust-to-goo ratio.
It’s a true family affair, too. Appel’s son, Charlie, who is currently at Loyola Marymount University, handles the backend—think HR, logistics, and partnerships—while daughter Sophia has also helped manage the store’s social media and operations over the years.
Why it matters
Zooies proves that you don't need a high-end retail space to serve top-tier products. By leveraging existing family assets to slash overhead, they’ve managed to scale a side hustle into a neighborhood staple. Real talk: it's a major W for anyone who wants high-quality snacks without paying luxury prices.
