For Black Business Month I’m spotlighting A Few fab Park Slope Spots:
“We Rise By Lifting Others!” …so Let’s Rise Up to that Challenge…b/c Bonbon Lakay Needs (Y)OUR Support Now More Than Ever.
At least two Black-women owned and operated business based in Park Slope Bklyn beautifully bring so much value and benefit beyond the community they’re based in (Bon Bon Lakay at 351 5th Ave 11215 and Good Wine: at 327 5th Ave 11215) which is often the case for Black-owned businesses whether they are in a predominantly Black or White neighborhood. To be sure, running a successful small business in NYC is ridiculously challenging regardless of one’s gender or hue. Nonetheless for most women of color, in the Americas at least, it’s particularly daunting given a specific set of historical and systemic factors we’ll explore in more detail in my special August TFG Show episode [sign up for my email list and follow @thefoodgriot on Instagram to receive updates on when/how/where to watch]
For Black Business Month (August) I’m spotlighting a few local businesses in my completely gentrified neighborhood: Black-women owned locations that are fabulous and just happen to be faves of mine and everyone who frequents them:
Up First: Bonbon Lakay, a colorful Park Slope storefront serving up fabulous Haitian fare including savory, flaky Haitian patties (baked or fried!), hearty and healthy Haitian soups and stews, amazing main dishes (see some beauty shots in the slideshow below), beautiful (inside & out) custom-made cakes, crazy good cookies, and the most deliciously thirst- quenching all natural fresh pressed tropical juice drinks you’ve ever had in your life!: soursop limeade, passionfruit, guava + other very special culturally-rooted treats. An all around wonderfully welcome (and yes DIVERSIFYING ) addition to this neighborhood and 5th Ave businesses district ever since it opened in 2021…
Owner, Edgina Désmormeaux explains:
“The reality is that my business was born out of passion + personal savings, without deep pockets nor tons of financial investment, aside from a partially funded GoFundMe campaign which we are grateful for b/c every bit counts! I’ve had to continuously pivot and rethink our offerings, mostly due to inflation and rising overhead costs. I’ve been fighting tooth and nail through the pandemic and still now to keep up, not only survive but to grow; + leveraging this commercial venture to also support communities in Haiti as well as help that is needed here in NYC has always been part of my core mission……”
“We have an amazing community of customers here and from afar who love and support us, however we go through cycles, where we have to pick and choose between paying bills or getting the inventory we need to meet increased demand. I'm coming to terms with the realization that the road to recovery is going to be longer than expected. My hope is that our Pay It Forward initiative becomes a cure not only for transcending beyond surviving to thriving with the business but also helps push our mission of supporting our Haitian community forward.
“NYC hotels and shelters are at capacity, soup kitchens are running out of food … The recent influx of newly arrived Haitian immigrants in need of employment… are looking to already under-resourced small businesses like mine for help.”
“We’re asking the community at large to sponsor Bonbon Lakay’s efforts via pre-order purchases via our “Pay It Forwards” campaign directly on our website . With your support we would be able to continue business operations, hire/rehire our staffers we’ve had on standby & provide meals to shelters and food pantries right away.”
I would also like to include here the link to Bonbon Lakay’s original GoFundMe campaign that was set up in support of being able to open the storefront in 2021. Although the campaign did not reach its desired goal, the contributions it did receive were part of the store being able to open. The campaign is still active and contributing that way too also helps the shop to not only STAY OPEN and move beyond survive to thrive but also to help continue to achieve its multi pronged community minded goals. ~ T. Hopkins aka “The Food Griot”
PS. Relevant side note the next Good Wine class at the Old Stone House (OSH) of Brooklyn will not only be featuring food & wine history from yours truly AND OSH’s scholar in residence but ALSO special house-made cherry hand pies by Bonbon Lakay!
📸 @bonbonlakay @parkslopeliving and @thefoodgriot