Crazy Susan's Cookies Back Open For Business, Boosted by TV Show

Business was brisk at on West Avenue on Saturday, the first day the shop was open for the season.

In fact, Mac MacNorton, a member of owner Susan Adair's extended family who was single-handedly waiting on a steady stream of customers at about 2 p.m., was just about out of cookies — three hours ahead of closing time. The Crazy Turtle, a gooey caramel concoction and probably Adair's best-seller, was long gone.

MacNorton promised the shop will reopen next Saturday, April 7, at 8 a.m. It will be open Saturdays in April and Saturdays and Sundays in May. Come June: seven days.

But the question on many customers' lips on Saturday: Will "Tough Cookies" be back?

In case you missed it, "Tough Cookies" is the Food Network reality TV show based on the antics of Adair, her sister Linda Brand and their lovable, but kooky, family members as they operate the busy resort store.

"Tough Cookies" filmed in Ocean City last spring and premiered in July 2011. In a memorable episode, Adair created The Mayor, a super-sweet conglomeration of cookie and candy, for Mayor Jay Gillian.

MacNorton said the sisters are still in discussions with Food Network about whether the show will film more episodes. Making the show was hard work — but the notoriety for Crazy Susan's definitely paid off, MacNorton said.

Adair and Brand opened a second store in Voorhees and appeared on Fox Philadelphia's morning TV show a couple times over the winter. They also sold cookies on QVC and plans are for them to appear quarterly on that network, MacNorton said.

If you can't wait to find out if "Tough Cookies" will be back with new episodes, catch re-runs in the wee hours of the morning, according to Food Network's website. Tune in — or, better yet, stop by Crazy Susan's West Avenue shop. Grab a Snickerdoodle — or two or three — and say "hi" to Mac, Susan and the gang.