08/20/2026
When we first opened Smusht in May 2023, Hudson was the only freshman I hired. And he immediately had a huge impact. He added Green Day to the playlist so we didn’t have to listen to Taylor Swift all day long.
But what impressed me most was his passion and love for Smusht. As the only freshman, he was the one setting the example.
Hudson came to us as a kid who loved music and videography but, like many kids his age, was still finding his confidence. However, he was super confident about one thing. Shortly after we opened, he guaranteed me that if I let him run our TikTok, we would have 50,000 followers by August.
Now, more than three years later, we have 1,078.
Fortunately, Hudson has been much better at just about everything else.
Smusht quickly became a major part of his life. He worked a lot, wanted to learn every part of the business, made friends, and cared about Smusht in a way that really stood out.
Like most people, he made mistakes. He even missed a shift or two. Yet I could always see his potential. And over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of watching him grow.
Hudson came out of his shell, became a respected team leader, and earned the friendship and admiration of everyone who works with him. The kid who lived on chicken fingers, fries, and white rice became one of the people leading our staff on late-night trips to Flushing for Korean barbecue.
But more importantly, Hudson developed an extraordinary connection with our customers and this community. He remembers your orders, talks to everyone, and makes customers feel welcome. You know him, and he knows you. People regularly ask if Hudson is my son, probably because he is always here, cares so deeply about the business, and represents Smusht with so much pride.
But it may also be because we are very much alike. I see a lot of myself, especially the 18-year-old version of me, in Hudson. We both have a sarcastic sense of humor, a desire to talk to everyone, a love of spontaneity and adventure, and a willingness to try just about anything. If I had met Hudson when I was a kid, I’m sure we would have been friends.
Early on, Hudson repeatedly asked me to recreate his favorite Häagen-Dazs flavor, Midnight Cookies & Cream. Eventually, I made my own version and called it Hudson’s Chocolate Oreo. It was the first Smusht flavor I named after someone, and he was incredibly proud to see his name on our wall.
Hudson is not my son, but I love him, and I could not be prouder of the young man he has become. I have gotten to know and care about him, and I could not have been luckier to have him as the face of Smusht for our first three years.
Hudson has now graduated, and next week he heads off to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. I am excited to see where his creativity, curiosity, love of film and music, and adventurous spirit take him. I am also genuinely sad to imagine Smusht without him.
Hudson grew up at Smusht, and Smusht grew up with Hudson. He is part of our story, part of our family, and he always will be. And Hudson’s Chocolate Oreo will always carry his name.
We love you, Hudson. Thank you for everything.
And for the record, Hudson never said which August he’d get us to 50,000 followers. So if anyone has 48,922 friends who could follow us before he leaves, please send them our way.
