Launching a enterprise throughout a pandemic could appear daunting, even dangerous. But, listed below are three budding entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid of a problem. Meet Lyrica, Zaira and Nadira Leo.
What’s much more exceptional about these three: They’re aged 13, 12 and 9 (respectively). Their enterprise — promoting plant-based meals and pure merchandise — known as Bourne Good and it just about describes this trio of proficient sisters.
“They’re wonderful,” mentioned Tallahassee chef Shacafrica Simmons, of Chef Shac Catering, who has mentored the ladies for years. “I’m tremendous impressed with their vigilance, their ardour, their conviction for what they do.
“And I’m tremendous impressed with their mother and her dedication to serving to them fulfill their goals and objectives,” she mentioned.
Their goals and objectives for now are to assist folks, and to “develop the enterprise,” mentioned Zaira, who’s coming into seventh grade. “We’ve the concept we wish to carry it on in our household for generations.”
The sisters truly shaped their enterprise a number of years in the past — the truth is their father, Jahlion Leo, gave them their first $50 mortgage to get began. The women catered and bought their meals at festivals, farmers’ markets and occasions.
They launched their first brick-and-mortar eatery/market on July 25 in one of many small, colourful nooks that line the Breezeway Market at Railroad Sq..
Their cabinets are lined with baked items together with cupcakes, cookies and breads (like banana or coconut raisin); natural teas and fruit juices; and their nonnie Ella’s preserves (pickled okra, squash relish and jams). A vendor handcrafts pure hair merchandise.
On Saturdays, the Leo ladies prepare dinner a number of sizzling dishes, with the menu posted every week on their Fb web page.
Legally, the store is leased by mother, Syrheda La Shae, and their father, however the ladies take a variety of the duty for operating Bourne Good, each the enterprise and their nonprofit efforts.
It began with a younger Lyrica and her mother’s dedication to a homeschool curriculum that jived completely with cooking and reaching out to the neighborhood.
“At six years outdated, Lyrica had a knack for that,” mentioned Syrhed, whose personal profession background is as a set and costume designer and a instructor within the theater division at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College.
“Lyrica had a possibility to bake and assist others,” she mentioned. “Yearly I believed she would wish to cease however she turned much more passionate than earlier than.”
Now her sisters have solidified that dedication with nice outcomes. They’ve received a number of awards and in February, they have been acknowledged on the 2020 Trailblazers awards by The Oasis Middle for Ladies & Women.
“My mother and father all the time taught me to present again to the neighborhood,” mentioned Lyrica, who’s coming into the eighth grade. The women would donate meals to classmates who have been hungry, to nonprofits, charitable occasions.
“Wherever we noticed folks in want,” added her mom.
All of the whereas, they labored on the enterprise facet of Bourne Good as nicely. They’re the youngest members of the Massive Bend Minority Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, mentioned Syrheda. They’re additionally members of the Capital Metropolis Chamber of Commerce.
Whereas they work laborious, “it’s kinda enjoyable,” mentioned Nadira.
“And we get to satisfy lots of people,” added Lyrica.
To get a way of their enjoyable method, check out their Fb web page, like this entry with an image of scrumptious-looking cupcakes:” We simply chatted together with your weight-reduction plan… It mentioned you might have only one! The additional giant cupcakes are prepared for buy. See you in 2 hours…
While you see the ladies on the store they’re pleasant {and professional} — they usually certain can prepare dinner.
My husband and I ended by the Bourne Good eatery on a latest Saturday for a takeout meal. We savored beneficiant sizzling dishes of pepper steak, made with textured vegetable protein, cooked with onions and bell, aji and Scotch bonnet peppers, giving the dish a pleasing kick. The “rooster curry” is a meatless dish flavored with their very own sauce. Each scrumptious.
You could have a alternative of 1 protein with one starch and one veggie for $10 or two proteins with one starch and one veggie for $14. We ordered the islandy rice and pigeon peas with one dish and the aromatic fried rice with the opposite in addition to a facet of steamed collard and candy potato greens with chunks of steamed white potatoes — all flavorful and fortifying.
Their menu modifications every week, providing different choices like roti, the Indian flatbread; the Caribbean vegetable callaloo; and mac ‘n cheese. A shout-out for utilizing principally paper packaging.
We additionally took residence a delicious pound cake and cinnamony carrot cake brites.
When the ladies started baking they needed to discover ways to convert recipes for vegan baking, mentioned Lyrica. “A number of baking wants eggs and dairy however you need to use applesauce for eggs and coconut milk or almond milk.”
Whereas they work as a staff, their mother has helped them to appreciate “that every of them deliver one thing distinctive to the enterprise. I wish to encourage that uniqueness. They’re working collectively as one enterprise entity however they’ve their particular person expertise.”
Syrheda describes Lyrica as a “pure chief. She plans menus and he or she’s the top chef. She’s the one I began within the kitchen.”
“Zaira is sweet with numbers,” mentioned her mother. “She balances the books and handles the stock. We discuss how a lot cash we spent for provides in comparison with how a lot cash we venture to earn.”
Nadira enjoys “being the style tester,” mentioned Syrheda. “She helps arrange store, ensuring the cabinets are restocked.”
At residence, the ladies all take part in foraging for culinary herbs, vegetation, fruit and veggies.
“Not solely do now we have completely different dandelions, however now we have lemongrass, pinecone ginger, wild lettuces, blueberries and edible flowers,” mentioned Syrheda, who gave up instructing different college students to give attention to her daughters. She homeschooled them in South Carolina for 3 and a half years.
For the previous three years, the sisters have attended the Tallahassee College of Arts and Sciences in Tallahassee. Throughout faculty, they typically baked and cooked earlier than and after lessons. They nonetheless begin their day at 6 a.m.
Involved in regards to the coronavirus, notably as a result of Lyrica has an immune dysfunction, the ladies will seemingly take digital lessons this fall, however the household is assured opening a enterprise now was the precise factor to do.
“We felt optimistic in regards to the determination to open presently,” mentioned Syrheda. “”We traveled in South Carolina and Georgia this summer time and checked out small companies and retail to see what they have been doing and what was working for them. We be ok with our security practices.”
The women all put on masks (I requested them to drag them off briefly for an image they usually rapidly put them again). They’re solely permitting 5 folks at a time within the store and clients are required to put on masks.
“Everybody has revered our needs,” mentioned Syrheda. “We haven’t had any issues in any respect. Everybody has been affected person.”
One optimistic influence of the virus could also be that it has helped households “zone in on one another,” she mentioned.
“I hope that Covid has made folks understand that a variety of the skin noise and additional actions is probably not conducive to the household as a complete.”
What’s essential is for households, Syrheda mentioned, “is simply spending extra time collectively, being collectively.”
That togetherness has been a boon for the Leo household.
“To have this sort of drive, and to perform a lot at this age,” mentioned Chef Shac. “It’s spectacular.”
Picture at high of web page: Zaira, Nadira and Lyrica; Picture Credit score Bourne Good
While you go …
Bourne Good, Railroad Sq. Breezeway Market, 618 McDonnell Dr.; 850-391-8541. Hours: 11 a.m. to six p.m. Thursday to Saturday.
