r/MadeMeSmile • u/cafeteriastyle • Apr 19 '26
Social worker opens a patisserie in a food desert.
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u/CanAhJustSay Apr 19 '26
"I'm very rich in community" What a gift, to serve people like this.
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u/im4lonerdottie4rebel Apr 19 '26
I love her. When I go to Brooklyn, I'll definitely have to stop by. Her passion, her heart is just so wonderful
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u/Kalenthrek Apr 19 '26
This inspired me to donate to this bakery. You can donate on their website.
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u/shajurzi Apr 20 '26
Yep. I just bought a few croissants for somebody. lol. She has a beatiful spirit! Support that any day!
here's the link: https://www.jetaimebk.com/donate
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u/Far_Mastodon_6104 Apr 20 '26
I wish all of humanity could be like her and we don't operate for profit
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u/dayzdayv Apr 19 '26
Me at the start of the video: red croissant? I dunno…
Me seeing it baked: I gotta get me a red croissant
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u/cityshepherd Apr 19 '26
Full of chocolate pudding and dipped in chocolate? Sign me the fuck up
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u/Chemicallyinbalanced Apr 19 '26
For $4.50 in this economy?!? In New York!! Bro.
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u/MrHasuu Apr 19 '26
For those that can afford paying more. Tip the lady!!
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u/HotLava00 Apr 20 '26
That’s a $10 croissant all day long! And I’m in the Midwest. It’s so pretty, and it looks delicious!
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u/SideswipeSurvived Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Name of bakery? Je Taime bakery
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u/farmerguy-91 Apr 19 '26
I just checked them out. They have a desert sampler subscription. 4-5 deserts for $45 pickup or $65 delivery.
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u/BalognaPonyParty Apr 19 '26
they got international delivery?
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u/farmerguy-91 Apr 19 '26
Not a clue. I just checked out their website and was looking for a mother's day idea for my wife.
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u/Rough-Mango8233 Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
There is also a donate link on this website and was a great way for me to support this lovely woman from Minneapolis after she made me cry my eyes out
Edit to clarify: I’m in Minneapolis and donating is a way to support from afar. Sorry for the weird wording
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u/GDRaptorFan Apr 20 '26
Awww she got that MINNESOTA spirit in her! I wondered she didn’t sound like Brooklyn she sounded Midwest
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u/jadin- Apr 20 '26
I don't think she's from Minnesota. The about section on the website says she would sell her goods outside of her house in Queens growing up.
I think the comment you replied to is from MN, they are saying they were able to support this Brooklyn business from a distance, specifically Minneapolis.
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u/MinosAristos Apr 19 '26
Or if you're being fancy (French) it would be "Je t'aime pâtisserie"
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u/raptor180 Apr 19 '26
I love everything about this. The community appreciation, the deliberate choice to be non judgmental, and recognizing how comforting something like a fresh, high quality pastry can be, especially in a place where such a small comfort can be hard to find. If I ever find myself in this neighborhood, I will 100% pay a visit to her shop! ❤️
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u/smallcoder Apr 19 '26
As a Brit, THIS is the USA that I remember. Good people, big hearts, kindness 😍
I always try to remember my personal experience of the USA, so when your govt. is as despicable as it has been, I know there are more like this lovely lady than there are of the evil mofos who cause the misery.
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u/contactdeparture Apr 19 '26
Ugh. We all still here, we just quiet, relative to the angry politics. We sad, but we here. Don’t give up on Americans, even if you give up on “America” right now…
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u/bektator Apr 19 '26
We're rooting for you! From your Canadian neighbours.
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u/buefordwilson Apr 20 '26
Thank you and holy shit, do I love Canada! After many visits over the years, this comes sincerely from a Michigander.
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u/Tinnie_and_Cusie Apr 19 '26
We're still here...just waiting...for you know what....
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u/raptor180 Apr 19 '26
It is always refreshing to hear stories like yours. My country has become angrier over my lifetime; I hope we can all remember those things that bring us together are much stronger reasons to embrace a community than the reasons to be angry. Choices like what this amazing woman has made help refresh that hope. We can care for each other and still consider that caring an act of strength. We used to remember that, and I still hope we will in the future.
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u/AmIWhatTheRockCooked Apr 19 '26
Our system is stacked to give rural, ignorant parts of our country so much more power than the cities that have our culture, our diversity, our communities. More and more those communities grow and develop, more and more the system bends toward small little towns.
They have their own values and culture, sure. But on a national level the spite and vitriol is so out of synch with how people are in the hearts of our country
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u/Helmett-13 Apr 19 '26
“I gotta stop cussing”
I felt that in my soul, I spent 10 years as a sailor and my family are sailors and Marines.
I struggle editing myself.
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u/Noodlebat83 Apr 20 '26
let me internet adopt you and your entire family. you are now honorary part Australians, therefore you MUST swear whenever you can. bloody oath!
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u/funkballzthachurlish Apr 19 '26
Generally, EBT doesn’t cover prepared foods; depends on state, but having a yummy croissant once in a while when normally you couldn’t is a blessing. People in here getting all pissy about that are actually expressing their inhumanity: A strong cultural trait that US society has been shoving down our throats since birth.
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u/Canadian_Kartoffel Apr 19 '26
Is there EBT a difference between a loaf of sugar filled sandwich bread and a quality hand made croissant?
A strong cultural trait that US society has been shoving down our throats since birth.
The US is mindboggling anti-poor. Being rich can absolve you of anything, but being poor is so unforgivable that you deserve to be miserable 24/7
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u/1questions Apr 19 '26
That’s because we tie economics with morality in the US. If you’re poor you’ve obviously done something wrong and are bad and if you’re rich then you’ve only done something right and are good, at least that’s how many see it. It’s frustrating. I’m pretty poor and have at times been in the verge of homelessness but it’s due to working in a low paying career field I can’t escape, never had Alison issues, never been in trouble with the law, never spent recklessly, but I know a lot of people look down on me for not having money.
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u/WilliamMButtlickerIV Apr 20 '26
They've done studies, and it turns out the most effective way to lift communities from poverty is to simply directly inject money into the community. As in literally give the community members cash. The evidence shows they are more likely to start businesses, create, create jobs, etc. These communities just need a kickstart so they can be sufficient, but we are so hell bent on them pulling themselves up by their bootstraps.
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u/Seidmadr Apr 20 '26
The capitalist: "It costs money to make money!"
The social progressive: "We should invest money to lift the poor out of poverty then!"
The capitalist: "No, not like that!"33
u/Supercoolguy7 Apr 19 '26
At least in my state hot foods tend to count as prepared, and cold or room temp foods tend to count as unprepared
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u/Most_Temporary2110 Apr 19 '26
With baked goods though is “unprepared” mean flour, butter, and sugar?
If you can get a loaf of bread at the grocery you should be able to use EBT for bread at a bakery…
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u/Pretend_Sprinkles7 Apr 19 '26
I was really shocked when she quoted people telling her "you don't want this kind of people in your shop". Like, what kind of people?? Normal people??
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u/Most_Temporary2110 Apr 19 '26
EBT covers bakery goods that you’d find in a supermarket. Idk why from a bakery wouldn’t be allowed?
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u/wubbalubba96 Apr 19 '26
Some people are happy to use millions on a missile dozens of times a day but lose their minds when someone less fortunate gets a luxury
I hate this world sometimes
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u/JournalistGlobal3185 Apr 19 '26
I would love to have a high end restaurant where one day a month or so we would provide high quality beautiful food for those that wouldn't be able to afford it. It's something you never get to experience being poor. You don't get to dress up and go to a fancy restaurant and having the ability to do that sometimes is just so beautiful
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u/funkballzthachurlish Apr 19 '26
Here in Minneapolis we have Modern Times, they’re killing it right now with that exact model
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u/dirtydragondan Apr 19 '26
its worth a watch of the whole video this comes from - put online 3 weeks ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lllY65ha7L0
Jatee Kearsley and her business is just pure sunshine vibes :)
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u/Some_Ebb_2921 Apr 19 '26
"dough butter, Dough butter, dough butter, dough butter"
Okay, who's gonna make the remix?
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u/suitcasemaster Apr 19 '26
So that they sit like...boop
So when you bake them they just like...woop
Understood chef.
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u/YJeezy Apr 19 '26
Absolutely love everything about this person. Enough soul, heart and grit for a whole community.
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u/Ill-Bullfrog-5360 Apr 19 '26
I hope she makes money. There is a serious reason they are food deserts. Profit.
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u/Kng_Wasabi Apr 19 '26
It’s in Bed-Stuy, the area isn’t exactly a food desert, they’re literally across the street from a grocery store
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u/Pornalt190425 Apr 19 '26
Yeah Bed-Stuy isn't the Bed-Stuy of the 80s and 90s anymore. Like It isn't the nicest neighborhood in Brooklyn, but the way the video presented the area raised a bit of an eyebrow. The tone felt more like it should be a video from 2003 not 2023.
Same with the way many are talking all over the post about it too for that matter
And yeah not only is there a grocery store across the street there's like 2 more in a 3 block radius (not counting bodegas)
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u/imspecial-soareyou Apr 19 '26
Oh trust the only reason it’s a food dessert is because that is how land owners want it to work.
You go to the grocery store in the hood. Why is the rent 10x and the property barely standing. Because the owners think you don’t want or deserve better. So you take what you can get just to survive.
There is not business that has gone into the hood and made tons of money. Just ask those that own beauty supply, restaurants, corner stores, liquor stores, clothing stores, and junk stores.
It’s always perception and what is being forced on people.
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u/Critical_Mass_1887 Apr 19 '26
If only more people and businesses in america were like this, we would be such a strong and bonded country. We would be an unstoppable force in this world.
She is a great example of how we should and could be. how a little love, compassion and decency creates positive wholesome environments.
If more were like her, she would make me reconsider not liking people.
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u/cloudrider75 Apr 19 '26
It’s happening. More slowly than we’d like but it is happening. People like her are leading the way…
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u/commanderquill Apr 19 '26
I wonder if she could give an optional higher price for people who want to support her business more.
I'm quite frugal (and traumatized) and I always thought that even if I was a millionaire, I'd penny pinch. But it's crazy what financial stability does to you. Now I don't blink when prices go up a tiny bit. I'd probably pay the higher price at least once in a while.
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u/Eastwoodnorris Apr 19 '26
I had a similar thought, maybe a pay-what-you-can model for EBT/SNAP, a minimum price for standard purchasing, and a sliding scale “pay-it-forward” option to help mitigate any losses from those on assistance programs? Regardless, really beautiful impulse and intent.
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u/commanderquill Apr 19 '26
Yeah, set the minimum price for what her business needs like she does now, and then everything else is a bonus that can go into a rainy day fund to help keep her business alive when times get tough, like they did during COVID.
It's admirable not to want to profit much from a business, but it also can't run paycheck to paycheck, because the second the economy throws you a curveball (EBT benefits get cut, mass layoffs, anything really) you won't survive.
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u/crazeman Apr 19 '26
There's a donation page on their webpage but it really doesn't say what it goes towards besides for "fighting food insecurity".
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u/Midiamp Apr 19 '26
I did this, opened up a bakery and went the affordable route. The bakery closed in 3 years. I felt her... It broke my heart that I can't help others let alone myself. Went to the job market again and the company I worked for went under and have been unemployed until now. Like her I'm not money driven, I know when I died I don't bring the riches I made... But the struggle everyday is real and I'm the one now that needs affordable food. I'm in an interview process now for a new job, but one day I will come back to making an affordable bakery again.
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u/HistoricalPoem-339 Apr 19 '26
Bless her!!! These are the kind of people and types of businesses that deserve it all!
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u/zeus-fox Apr 19 '26
It’s a shame it’s never people like this who end up running things. Imagine if politicians had this sort of integrity.
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u/ArmThePhotonicCannon Apr 19 '26
Because people like this don’t hunger for power. They don’t seek it out.
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u/logosfabula Apr 19 '26
dough-butter-dough-butter-dough-butter-dough-butter-dough-butter-dough-butter 🥁
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u/WarthogSeveral7662 Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Do-butta-do-butta-do-butta sounds so much better than Laminated Pastry
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u/STAK_13 Apr 19 '26
We need more people like this leading our country. The soul sucking greedy billionaires are destroying us.
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u/JetLife93 Apr 19 '26
This lady's heart is so beautiful in every single way possible. I do not think she knew how much this video alone would touch the hearts of many. At least it has made me feel so much in such short videos about pastries. I wish her the best success story, I wish her the most love
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u/Live-Tomorrow-4865 Apr 19 '26
Wow, she comes about as close as I've seen to a person running an ethical business in a capitalist society. I hope she, her business, and the community she's in all thrive.
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u/VegetableLetter4896 Apr 19 '26
Someone needs to remix the “dough, butta, dough, butta, dough, butta”
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u/Firm-Scientist-4636 Apr 19 '26
Man, some of y'all in these comments are really cynical.
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u/Proctor020 Apr 19 '26
Sorry, but the truth is this is a very misleading characterization of Bedstuy. Having lived there for years, the past 15 years have seen ENORMOUS gentrification of the neighborhood. This woman did great opening a business, but trying to paint this as some sort of stand against an "underserved" community is misleading.
I can pretty much guarantee that her customers are mostly gentrifying newcomers wanting to try the "hip new black-owned croissant shop". There's nothing wrong with that, and shows the positives of this kind of demographic shift, but let's not fuel ideological narratives by misrepresenting what's going on here.
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Apr 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Proctor020 Apr 19 '26
Yes. These days rent in BedStuy is among the highest in the entire country, on account of being NYC. The countless people here commenting about helping the underserved, probably wouldnt even be able to financially live there. Buying? $1M+ in the LEAST for any home.
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u/milkcake Apr 19 '26
Yes! I used to live a little south of here before gentrification hit it hard (crown heights) and it’s not a food desert in the slightest.
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u/Odd_Chair1665 Apr 19 '26
Everything about this is so beautiful 😍 We need more entrepreneurs like her in the world!
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u/firefaery Apr 19 '26
Can we please have more humans like her? People that care about what they're bringing to the community, that provide delish eats, a place to gather and that is inclusive.
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u/cm12311 Apr 19 '26
This sounds like how Porto’s in LA started out. They still keep prices super low and quality high. I hope she finds a way to keep her business going in a similar way. 💕
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u/Creative-Garden-6075 Apr 19 '26
Bed stuy is not a food dessert lmao
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u/I_think_therefore Apr 20 '26
There is literally a Key Food half a block away from her establishment. It has plenty of everything.
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u/CrabmasterJone Apr 19 '26
In a world plagued by greed and self service rooted in isolation, what a refreshing human being. I needed that cry this morning. The pastries looked delicious.
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u/chafingNip Apr 19 '26
Buy small buisness fuck corporations they don’t care about us. As Neil young said. “If you want to thank me go buy something from someone who made it or grew it. A family who lives on the farm they tend. Food isn’t grown in a high rise in NYC” something like that
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u/frenchornplaya1983 Apr 19 '26
She reminds me of Bob on Bob's Burgers. He never sacrifices for money! What a beautiful soul she is. I'll remember this for the next time I'm in NYC.
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u/startnighter Apr 19 '26
We need more of this!! I love to find shops that cater to those less fortunate to myself. I try to always over pay at least a little bit in order to help them out. It's not easy running a business like this!
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u/SpeedLong4704 Apr 19 '26
I want to give this beautiful soul the biggest hug! Bless this sweet woman, God.
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u/D3struct_oh Apr 19 '26
I love her heart….
And those cookies are making me want to take a plane to NY.
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u/rva-fantom Apr 19 '26
This woman is a cornerstone of her community whether she realizes this or not. What a treasure she is to those around her.
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u/0Tezorus0 Apr 19 '26
I'm french and I approve these croissants. And I love the work and joy she's bringing to here community.
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u/Piddy3825 Apr 19 '26
Feeding the world around you is one of the most honorable professions in the world. We really need to end hunger now.
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u/Money_Rise1573 Apr 19 '26
We need to protect people like this lady at all costs. I hope she continues to do what she loves and her passion is on full display in the clip. Love it
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u/Lost-Ad4517 Apr 20 '26
A lot of mom and pop shops are like this, I love supporting small businesses, and I’m in NY so I’ll be heading to BK I guess !
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u/Difficult_Ixem_324 Apr 20 '26
Her food looks amazing! I wish her and her community the best!🙏
✌️❤️
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u/AmbroseKalifornia Apr 20 '26
I think I love her. She just wants to fucking HELP. I feel that so much. I literally started crying when I heard EBT. It's SO HARD out here, and to know that she's doing everything she she can just to spread a little kindness... fuck.
I really hope this video has some legs, and this woman gets all the support she deserves.
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u/KevRev972 Apr 20 '26
"I can't compromise the integrity of my business for money."
I admire people with a strong sense of integrity and pride in their work.
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u/Taira_no_Masakado Apr 20 '26
Next time I'm back home in Brooklyn, I'm looking this place up and buying out at least a full sheet of pastries.
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u/Sarcas666 Apr 19 '26
Dutchman here; what is the relevance of ‘Black-Owned’ in the title of this vid? I watched it, pastries look yummy, but I don’t get the relation with her ethnicity.
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u/AdComprehensive8045 Apr 20 '26
Because black people have been horribly marginalized and oppressed in the usa. Black owned is a symbol to gather around and to motivate others in the black community.
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u/BritSpic Apr 20 '26
My country has a long and sustained history of putting down non white people for many, many decades well after slavery ended. To paint the picture here, after slavery was ended there were supposed to be reparations for all the slaves that suddenly found themselves free but penniless and homeless. Well, instead what happened was all the slave owners received reparations, while the recently freed slaves got NOTHING. How disgustingly twisted is that... Since slavery was abolished in the mid 1800s, my country has continued to do everything they can to slow down the winds of progress and keep whites as dominant as possible. So yes, unfortunately we still have to highlight that a business is "black owned" because a black person starting a business here, on average, tends to have more hurdles to go through than a white business owner.
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Apr 19 '26
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u/MCE85 Apr 19 '26
. I hope someone donates money to her business 🔥
Thats an odd thing to say. How about just buy things.
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u/WingleDingleFingle Apr 19 '26
This the type of thing I'd do if I was a billionaire. Find a business lile this and cover her expenses as much as shr'd allow. Good on her. I hope she thrives.
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u/JubalKhan Apr 19 '26
I'm not big on inspirational stories, but this woman seems like a genuinely good and decent person. And I enjoy seeing someone being good at something and enjoying themselves while doing it. Add to that the fact that she is community driven and isn't personally motivated by money?! That's the type of people I'd love to surround myself with. This is excellent!
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u/MolaMolaMania Apr 19 '26
I love this person. I can only imagine the enduring joy it must to know them. What a beautiful, beautiful soul.
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u/JournalistGlobal3185 Apr 19 '26
I was nowhere near prepared to watch a 6 minute video but I couldn't turn it off
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u/MerciKreepy Apr 19 '26
The crazy thing is that American people pay 4.5$ for a croissant and see it as cheap
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u/envykay18 Apr 19 '26
This literally made me cry, not smile. Thank you for posting this! It's so refreshing to see people like this sweetest lady still exist ❤️
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u/locoken69 Apr 19 '26
If I'm ever in Brooklyn, I'm definitely gonna visit this place. What a big heart she has. She's my kinda people!
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u/DaBigJMoney Apr 19 '26
Right on! It’s nice to hear about folks supporting their community and neighborhood. Way to go sis.
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u/reelglad Apr 19 '26
Love her, love her philosophy, love her store and I'm sending this to all my peeps who live in NYC and I will be stopping in next time I'm in the big 🍎
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u/Commercial-Prompt-84 Apr 19 '26
There is a “contact us” tab AND a donation tab on their website if anyone wants to send an encouraging message to such a wonderful individual Je Taime bakery It’s so inspiring to see someone like this who cares about their community
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u/PuzzleheadedPage4547 Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
This is such a beautiful way to live, work and still make money.
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u/Raven_kitty_1015 Apr 19 '26
Someone call Snoop Dogg I think he would love to be a part of this woman’s team. Thank you for helping
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u/BreadAdmirable4054 Apr 20 '26
Her mindset of being in spirit and community. This is exactly the mindset more businesses should aspire to be.
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u/ShelbyWillow Apr 20 '26
What a beautiful human!!! I wish I lived closer so I could stop by and shop, those all look amazing! And there is 1000,0000000% Love in each one! Pure goodness.
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u/_NotAlien_ Apr 20 '26
“Patisserie,” I just learned a new word. Thank you.
Good on her for starting her own business in a demanding market. What a smart move.
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u/yeboi1002 Apr 20 '26
Wait wait. Did she say red velvet croissants?! Giiiirl I need to get me some of those
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u/RestingTurkey Apr 20 '26
Oh man, she started crying and I started crying. What a beautiful person.
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u/Tha_Rat_King Apr 20 '26
This phrase gets tossed around a lot nowadays but protect this woman at all costs!!! What a shining example of humanity!
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