By Delaney Crawford
Mike Hauke, the bold and beloved owner of Tony Boloney’s, has never been one to play it safe. From serving up viral pizza creations in Atlantic City, Hauke has made a career out of doing things differently — and doing them with passion. Now, he’s taking that same energy to the national stage with his fresh mozzarella company, Mad Mutz.
The business, which specializes in handmade fresh mozzarella and gourmet mozzarella sticks, is headed to ABC’s “Shark Tank” on Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m., where Hauke and his business partner Michael Burns will pitch the company to a panel of millionaire investors.
While the outcome of their pitch remains under wraps — “Good, bad, win or draw, you’ll have to tune in to find out,” Hauke teased — the journey to “Shark Tank” is a story in itself.
The story behind the mozz
Though best known for Tony Boloney’s — a restaurant he opened in Atlantic City in 2009 that quickly gained a following for its over-the-top sandwiches, pizzas, and cheesesteaks — Hauke has always been an innovator and creative at heart.
Over the years, Tony Boloney’s grew from a humble sandwich shop into a foodie destination, drawing crowds from Philly to New York and beyond. Its popularity exploded online, with appearances on national food shows and viral videos showcasing creations like the Taco Pizza and the BurRito Pie. But through it all, there was one item Hauke never put on the menu: mozzarella sticks.
“They were all the same — mass-produced, bland, boring. Not worth it,” he said. “If I was going to do mozzarella sticks, they had to be different. They had to be great.”
That quest led him to Sicily, where he studied the traditional art of mozzarella making. “I learned how to make it fresh, from scratch. I studied over it until I mastered it.”
Back home, he began crafting flavored fresh mozzarella — infused with things like garlic, basil, and even truffle oil. The response was overwhelming.
“When we first started selling them at farmers markets, people were waiting two hours in line. It went huge,” Hauke said.
From there, the idea for Mad Mutz was born. He thought, “If the mozzarella is this good on its own, why not take it further and turn it into a fried mozzarella stick that’s actually worth eating?”
Hauke perfected the process and launched Mad Mutz as a stand-alone brand. Today, their gourmet mozzarella sticks are sold online, at specialty food stores, and at ShopRites across New Jersey. Locally, they can be found at Casel’s in Margate, and even in select stores as far away as Colorado and New York.
“We ship thousands of packages a week directly to consumers,” Hauke said. “We’ve got restaurants from all over reaching out to carry them. And people are loving it.”
Calling in reinforcements
As demand for Mad Mutz skyrocketed, so did the workload. On top of running Tony Baloney’s, Hauke was suddenly managing a fast-growing food business — and navigating the complex, months-long application process for “Shark Tank.”
“It got to the point where I was spending 8 to 10 hours a day just doing Shark Tank stuff — paperwork, calls, meetings with lawyers,” he said. “That’s when I called Michael.”
After learning more about what Hauke was doing, Michael Burns, a seasoned entrepreneur and longtime friend, came on board as a partner in Mad Mutz.
“He’s a serial entrepreneur like me, but where I’m more hands-on and creative, he’s the guy who lives in spreadsheets and systems. He loves the operations side, and I knew we needed that to get this thing right,” Hauke shared.
Together, they formed a tight-knit team — Hauke on the front lines and Burns handling logistics, structure, and growth strategy.
The road to ‘Shark Tank’
Landing a spot on “Shark Tank” is no small feat. According to Hauke, the selection process is intense.
“They get millions of applications every season. Just getting chosen to appear is a huge win,” he said. “It was grueling. The amount of time and energy it takes.”
And while Hauke has appeared on plenty of national talk shows and food segments before, “Shark Tank” was different. “This wasn’t about flash. This was about the nuts and bolts of my business. It was a business interaction.”
He had no specific Shark in mind to strike a deal with. “I just wanted to show what we do, show that people love it, and be honest about what we’re building.”
What’s next for Mad Mutz?
While Hauke wouldn’t give any spoilers on the outcome of the episode, he’s hopeful that the exposure will elevate both Mad Mutz and Tony Baloney’s.
“The biggest hope is more eyes on us — more people discovering what we’re doing,” he said. “Tony Boloney’s is already its own thing, but Mad Mutz has the potential to be nationwide. These aren’t your average mozzarella sticks. They deserve to be everywhere.”
Don’t miss it:
Catch Mike Hauke and Michael Burns on “Shark Tank” airing Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. on ABC to see if the Sharks bite on Atlantic City’s most flavorful pitch yet.
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. After earning a BA in Communications, Delaney built a successful career in the newspaper industry, honing skills in, news writing, media, and content creation. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DC’s Social Media & Content Creation, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
