The Scoop on Snooze: Q&A With Andy Mason
Andy Mason is a waiter at the original Snooze Ballpark location in downtown Denver. He has been working there for about three and a half years and through email, gave me the scoop on what it’s like to work at Snooze, what makes it unique and, although he works at a Denver location, he gave me little bit of insight on the Snooze in Old Town.
Q: Why did you decide to work at Snooze?
A: I had just moved to Denver after finishing college at CU (go buffs!) and needed a job. I had friends who worked at Snooze and it was the most fun breakfast experience I’ve ever had so I decided to apply!
Q:Before you applied, what made Snooze such a fun experience for you?
A: The servers felt like friends, the music was always bumping good jams, and the food was so good.
Q: What’s your favorite part about working at Snooze?
A: I love seeing the guests huge smiles and wide eyes when they get their food!
Q: What makes Snooze different from other breakfast spots? What makes it unique?
A: I think it’s the creative, quality food paired with a fun, unique experience and environment.
Q: How does Snooze try to make the experience unique for all of the people that go there, besides being creative?
A: We like to help people have the best breakfast experience they’ve ever had — helping them craft their own creation from the menu if they have a favorite food or are craving something that’s not on the menu; getting to know the guests and why they are at Snooze that day; trying to make them feel comfortable, like they are around friends and family, not just restaurant employees.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat at Snooze? What would you recommend?
A: This is a really hard question, but if I were forced to choose one thing, it would have to be the Chilaquiles Benedict, with flat and crispy hash browns.
Q: The hash browns are definitely one of my favorite things to get there. So, one thing Snooze is known for is it’s long waits. What makes Snooze food worth waiting for? Why are so many people attracted to Snooze?
A: I think Snooze was one of the first restaurants, especially for breakfast, to have a laid back, fun, and exciting eating experience. Plus, the pancakes are just so freaking fluffy.
Q: I really do love how fluffy the pancakes are! What would you say makes Snooze laid-back compared to another breakfast spot?
A: The goal is to give everyone that comes in the best breakfast experience ever, and I think it starts with our approach to the menu. Guests can literally build their perfect breakfast. A lot of restaurants don’t allow for that kind of menu flexibility. The chefs will do anything.
Q: There is a pancake using your PB Love Co peanut butter. How did that come about? Do you know if it can be served in Fort Collins?
A: Snooze is so amazing and supportive of its employees and their lives outside of Snooze, so they were super excited to collaborate with PB Love. We did a very special pancake of the day at Ballpark for Labor Day only. Our goal now is to do a special PB Love pancake of the day at every location. Stay tuned!
Q: I hope your pancake comes to Fort Collins because it looks so good, especially because I love peanut butter. On having pancakes of the day, how does Snooze decide on a pancake of the day? Is it based on what the customers want?
A: Sometimes it’s based on guest suggestions or favorites, sometimes it’s based on a favorite of the staff, most of the time it’s a chance for the chefs to flex their culinary creativity and think up delicious combinations.
Q: What makes the Snooze in Fort Collins stand out from others?
A: Snooze FoCo is pretty special because it was the first Snooze location outside of the Denver metro area. Plus, being in Old Town brings a really fun array of guests and an extra energetic vibe.
Q: It’s also great because you can walk around Old Town when you wait, which is what I do a lot. Last question, do you have a favorite story about a time you were working?
A: I had a little boy come in with his family for his birthday, and he LOVED Mickey Mouse — balloons, t shirt, stuffed animal. The kid was obsessed. So I asked our chefs to do a special Mickey Mouse shaped birthday pancake. When it came out with a candle on top, the little kid was so happy and his family was blown away and so surprised.
If this interview doesn’t make you crave Snooze, I don’t know what will.
