Mama Jo is NYC's Official Grandmother of Breakfast | Street Food Icons

-My children think I'm crazy. They think, "Mom, when are you going to stop?" No, I'm not going to stop. I am the oldest seller at the New York City sale. There could be other people where sons and daughters took over. I'm just me. If I die, die with me. That's how it works, you know? ♪♪ My name is Joanna Despas. They call me Mama Jo. I run Mama Jo's

breakfast

cart, yes. I was doing this for 35 years, maybe more. When I started, there were no

breakfast

carts in town. Now we have about 3,000. Breakfast Cart usually sells, you know, bagels, donuts, muffins, and Danish buns.

But I do more than that. I have all kinds of omelettes and all kinds of eggs, I prepare Greek

food

and I make spanikopita, olive bread. I make baklava. I make all kinds of iced coffees, cappuccinos, frappuccinos. I do everything. My most popular is the spanikopita with bacon, egg and cheese. I didn't go to any other corner during all these years. 47th and Park...that's where you'll find me. My clients are my jewels. They are. You get involved with the families and the kids and everything, yeah. They call me Mama Jo and they mean it. I'm telling you, they give me the name.

My name was Joanna from the beginning and then Jo. And then she became Mama Jo. I said, "Do you want me to add 'Grandma Jo's' now?" So, the little kids, you know, come from all over the United States and work in banks and law firms and everything. You know, they don't know many people here. So, it's nice to meet someone, a friendly face. And they appreciate it. And you can also ask them. It's not my word. Today is your birthday? Don't give me the five dollars, this is on me! -Thank you. -Do you want me to sing for you? -One time, I remember she was coming, and they said to me, "Where's Mama Jo?

Isn't Mama Jo here today?" Know? I said, "What will happen, guys, if I get a little older?" They said, "Mom Jo, sit in the chair and we'll make the coffee. But you'll be here, right?" Good. I was born in the north of Greece, in a small town called Pyloroi. When I was born, 1951, they weren't such easy years, you know? The children go to school, come home and go to the fields. I was 7 years old working in the fields - Cotton and tobacco and many things. I arrived here in 1968. I moved to the United States in search of a better future, a better life.

I love this country, yes. I have been here for so many years. I came here with nothing, no money. Absolutely nothing. I started from scratch. And I put my kids through college and bought a house. If you want to do things, you can do it in this country. I don't see you back there. -Like me. -"I'm here!" -It's okay, take care. Oh my God. Every day you hear a story. I wake up at 11:45, I leave my house at 12 at night. And I go to my fruit stand at 12:30. What is this? -I know. -From Peru? -Yeah. -Well.

Avocado from Peru. I go to the fruit market every morning. Every day what we sell is fresh, you know, at the stand. Now we are going to go to a place where I park my cart. Yeah, honestly, probably, oh... three and a half hours, four hours every day. I get up and get up. People say, "How do you do it? You're 68 years old." I guess I come from good genes, you know? Then I go to my police station at 1:00 and pick up my cart there. This is my menu. For example, if you go to a breakfast restaurant, I have more things than what they have on the menu.

At 2:07 my driver will arrive. And then he'll take this to my place. -I know. Oh. I'm going to give you a fine. Here is my driver. Mohammed is a great guy. He is from Africa. He's a great guy. The city never sleeps. Never sleeps. Then I come here around 2:00. Hi babe! -Are you going to help me here? -Ah, thank you very much. He doesn't do it for anyone else, just me, right, baby? Everything comes here delivered to me. My eggs, fresh, and my milk come here every day. 4:00 I put on the grill. Hi guys! Hello. -Good day. -Well.

I'm going to be a little busy now. ♪♪ -Oh, do you? That's because they're filming today. -Oh. -That's why! -I like it. -Thanks love. -Here you have. -Thanks man. -Can we take a photo? -Yeah! Yeah! Of course, here! Todooli, come here. Here is my Todooli. Take my Todooli. Yeah! Sausage, egg and cheese. What, I'm going to do it on a roll for you. I put the cheese here and then I put this on top so it melts. So we put this here. And then if you want salt, pepper, ketchup, whatever. I like pepper. Although this one is a little spicy, you know?

And I'm going to put some sriracha in it. Know? Like a little Sriracha, okay. Close it and then I make a nice cut like this. And a little up! That's all. And then you eat it. Toasted! Toasted! toasted donut! Your bun. -Alright. Thank you. -And I could write a book. I have stories and I have photos that... I don't forget anything. The book will be called "47 and Park." Maybe I will too. You never know if I will retire. Not long ago, in fact, it was some guys who tried to rob me. They grabbed my phone. And I chased them.

But also, don't forget, I have hot water. I can easily, you know, fix everyone. Give them a scar on their face if they try to do something. ♪♪ Do you want a frapethaki? Here you are, Esteban. You have to work and you have to like what you do. You don't like it, don't do it. I'm 68 years old, you know, and I do it because I like what I do. You see the exercise I get here, and I get even more at home. So I don't stop. And I won't stop. How long am I going to keep doing this?

My kids ask me that all the time. I don't know. Maybe in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years... I don't know. I'm still healthy. I have energy. You have to set priorities. What is your priority? Who comes first? You come first. You know what I mean? Don't stress in life. Never fear. And do what you want. And if you have a big problem, leave it for tomorrow, baby. Tomorrow, maybe that problem won't be there. ♪♪ See? That's thanks to you! Yeah! Yes of course! Who wants?! - You see, that's your fault. Yeah! Yes of course! Who wants?!