Inside the Farmer's Market: Johnny’s Cookies

It’s impossible to walk through the Fort Lee Farmer's Market without stopping by Johnny & Roxanne’s tent. Not only will the delicious baked goods capture your attention, but Johnny’s sharp sense of humor will have you laughing for hours after you leave.

Every Sunday morning, Johnny and Roxanne arise early to travel from Staten Island, where their bakery Luna Rossa, is located, to Fort Lee, where they sell their cookies and breads.

When Johnny met Roxanne the stars collided. Well, maybe not the stars, but Johnny collided right into Roxanne as he was rushing to finish his Christmas shopping. Running up and down the aisles of Kmart grabbing presents as he ran, his arms so filled with gifts that he couldn’t see where he was going, Johnny literally ran right into Roxanne, the force of their encounter almost knocking her to the floor with his gifts.

As all his gifts fell from his arms and crashed to the floor, all he could see was this beautiful woman standing before him. He knew immediately that he had met the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Johnny asked Roxanne to let him make it up to her by taking her to dinner the following night. Standing in an aisle of Kmart, gifts strewn all over the floor, Roxanne thought he was crazy. However, she agreed to have dinner with him. They married six months later.

Johnny was not born a baker. He was an assistant director for Shop Rite Liquors for over 20 years until a stroke ended his career. With Roxanne by his side, he was determined not to let this stroke end his life.

To meet Johnny is to know that his personality is not one that would ever accept defeat. He always has a smile on his face and a joke at the ready. He has a gift for making people laugh and making them want to be in his company. So when he was in rehab it’s no surprise that the doctors asked him to help motivate some of the older patients who felt they didn't have the strength to recover. He cheered them on while he himself was struggling every day to regain control of his legs; to re-strengthen the muscles of his body.

Unable to fully recover the strength of his legs, Johhny uses a wheelchair to get around with ease. However, he was unable to return to his job as assistant director for liquors at Shop Rite. That’s when family stepped in.

Enter My Cousin Vinny. Well, Johnny’s cousin Vinny, who owned Luna Rossa Bakery, and asked Johnny to come on as a partner. Knowing absolutely nothing about the bakery business, Johnny spent quite some time talking it through with Roxanne. But Vinny knew, as anyone who has ever met Johnny knows, that his personality would do more to sell cookies and baked goods than any seasoned baker could.

So, with Roxanne by his side, Johnny ventured out to start a second career. Johnny loves being out and meeting people, but he has admitted that starting over in a new business has caused him to drink more than a few bottles of Maalox.

Luna Rossa Bakery is a commercial bakery, so Johnny is not confined to staying in a store all day. He can still put to use his great sales personality and great sense of humor.

You can find Johnny and Roxanne at the Fort Lee Farmer's Market every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and every Tuesday at the Hasbrouck Heights Farmer's Market from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Luna Rossa Bakery can make cookies, cakes and breads for any occasion. If you have a special order you would like to place, you can email Johnny and Roxanne at cookies11@verizon.net. They also have a nice selection of sugar-free cookies for anyone who is diabetic or watching their sugar intake.

When you stop by the Fort Lee Farmer's Market, make sure you stop by and say “hello” to Johnny and Roxanne. You’ll not only get some delicious cookies, but also a lot of good laughs to go along with them.