Our Story
It has been said that out of crisis comes opportunity!
Well, if you believe that things happen for a reason…here is ours.
As the pandemic that we call Covid 19 swept around the world, lives were changed and destinies altered. During the initial months of the pandemic many food service businesses and other organizations were either partially or entirely closed. That holds true for Just Between Friends, a South Jersey catering company and the lifelong passion of Michael Brooks Tarzy (the “Brooks” half of “Brooks Collins”)
As people everywhere worked, studied and did just a about everything else from home….old friendships were renewed and new opportunities created.
Such is the case here as an old friendship between Mike’s brother Jim and Mike Collins (clearly the “Collins” half of Brooks Collins) brought two “Mikes” together to talk about the opportunity to make the lifelong dream of Mike Collins come true. As a 25 year veteran of the Chocolate Business and a Chocolatier recognized locally for both his talent and customer service, Mike, like many others had always had the vision that it would be his name on the box.
So, as had happened back in 1997 when two friends (Mike Tarzy & Sheree Walsh) got together to open Just Between Friends….two new friends began the planning for what would be Brooks Collins.
With the world shut down and nothing but time on their hands things were not necessarily “normal” or “easy”. Sourcing equipment and products led to trips to NYC to rescue equipment from closed up shops and an “overnighter” to Alabama to secure the equipment needed that would otherwise have taken a year to have built.
What is true of the American is that we rise to the occasion. Our story is none other than that time of the pandemic of 2020. We find ways to recover. We work together and take the risks necessary to ensure that we can continue to provide for our families.
From this spirit and a lifetime of food & business knowledge Mike Collins and Mike Tarzy looked to the future, envisioned an opportunity within the Just Between Friends banner, and began Brooks Collins Chocolates.
On October 14, 2020 – Just 60 days from idea to opening – Brooks Collins served its first customer. We quickly experienced that “your sense of taste” thoroughly enjoyed the “made from our hands” pleasures of Brooks Collins Chocolates.
We look forward to sharing this dream with all of you and to serving you sometime soon!