NEW YORK (WABC) — A small business owner used his love of baking and experience in the food industry to come up with the perfect recipe for success.<\/p>\n
It’s been said that good things come to those who hustle, and in a city like New York, Preston Lopez is proof.<\/p>\n
He describes his Crackl Cookies as a “gourmet with Latin infused cookie — crunchy, crispy, chewy, gooey.”<\/p>\n
Lopez said his cookies like the lemon drip, passion fruit cheesecake and especially the coconut cream cheese remind him of his grandmother.<\/p>\n
His cookies are all just real ingredients and a whole lot of story.<\/p>\n
“In the beginning, the cookies were like the regular American cookies, like oatmeal raisin, or it’s all about, like, you should tell your story,” Lopez said. “And that was the best thing ever when I delve into my story and being honest and truthful and doing something that I like that represents me and my culture and my community.”<\/p>\n
He said his life has been challenging since he was born in the Dominican Republic. He had his first job when he was 14 and eventually worked the night shift at Au Bon Pain and survived by taking home the discarded food.<\/p>\n
“I first worked in a whole bunch of restaurants like Au Bon Pain, I worked in Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald’s,” Lopez said. “In early 2023, I was looking for ideas and I really needed money. I have this belief that I could do almost anything. Right? So I’m like, I I could do this.”<\/p>\n
That ah-ha moment was born out of necessity because for Lopez, necessity has been a constant companion.<\/p>\n
Now with flour and sugar, with each egg and every scoop of batter, he’s not just making cookies, he’s building a future.<\/p>\n
He is the owner, baker, CEO and marketer of Crackl Cookies — all from six flights up in a Bronx walkup. He is a one-man show.<\/p>\n
He is one kid with a dream who had the grit to make it all happen.<\/p>\n
“When people try the cookies, they they lift me up also, a lot of people when they call me, like, this is the greatest cookies I’ve tried, this is the best cookie, and it gives me, you know, more strength to keep on,” Lopez said. “Because a lot of days, I’m being honest, it’s hard.”<\/p>\n
Lopez’s message for other kids who might see his story is to never give up and believe in themselves.<\/p>\n
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