In Los Angeles, cookie enthusiasts are making unexpected stops at a gas station to satisfy their cravings.
Within that gas station is Zooies, a cookie shop boasting a wide array of flavors and a dedicated customer base, all thanks to founder Arezou Appel, who personally creates every recipe.
“Yes, we are actually in a gas station,” Appel remarked.
This unusual setting has worked out quite well. Her husband, Jeff Appel, owns the gas station in the Cheviot Hills area of West LA, offering the family a unique opportunity to start Zooies without the typical costs of a standalone shop.
Arezou mentioned that being in this family-run gas station helps her manage costs effectively while ensuring she can use quality ingredients and baking methods, with cookies averaging around $4.
“It’s a great advantage being in a gas station,” she said, adding that it helps keep prices affordable.
Zooies sprang to life when Appel’s children were young. She initially taught herself to bake by exploring recipes in books, magazines, and on cooking shows, primarily making treats for her family.
“I simply wanted to create the best cookies for my husband and kids,” Appel shared.
As more people tasted her cookies and inquired about recipes, the idea of turning her hobby into a business began to take shape.
Nearly a decade later, Zooies now offers around 65 varieties, including options that are vegan, gluten-free, paleo, and refined-sugar-free. Some of the most popular items include the Brown Butter Chocolate Chip and Gooie cookies.
Appel demonstrated the process of making the Brown Butter Chocolate Chip cookie, noting how she meticulously weighs ingredients and combines chocolate chips and chunks cut from large bars.
According to her, the outcome is a “nice crust” with a wonderfully “soft and gooey” interior.
Zooies remains very much a family affair. Appel’s daughter, Sophia, previously assisted in the shop, handling social media, customer interaction, and stock management. Her son, Charlie, currently juggles his studies at Loyola Marymount University while engaging in various management aspects of Zooies, from operations to partnerships.
Customers have become a part of this growing story too.
Andrea Johnson has been a fan of the Walnut Gooie for nearly eight years, while Curtis Fralin drops by once a week.
Axel Baum labeled the cookies as “next-level elite,” emphasizing that Zooies has become a beloved neighborhood fixture.
For Appel, this sense of community goes beyond just serving cookies.
“Everyone who walks in here feels like family or a friend I haven’t met yet,” she expressed.
And when someone takes a bite of her cookies, what is her hope?
“I just want to hear, ‘Wow,’” Appel said. “It’s a sign we did it right once again.”
