Founder Stephanie Hart told ABC7 how "Life Is Sweeter" in Greater Grand Crossing with her homemade confections that she calls "dangerously delicious."
Hart spoke about how she began baking.
"I started baking in my 40s at home, and let's just tell the truth and shame the devil, it wasn't good, there were many, many bad cakes," Hart said. "When I'd be coming to my daughter's ballet, the ballet moms would try my cake, they'd say 'Oh no, we just ate.'"
Hart grew up in Downers Grove and ran a tech company with her husband before creating her true recipe for success.
"This product I developed was from my heart, from a love place," Hart said. "I think that what kept me going was the stories of the people and how the cake made them feel, and how it connected them to their memories of love and family and culture."
The entrepreneur took over the longtime Cupid Candies factory, shipping her products around the world.
"I'm the only African American female manufacturer of chocolate in America," Hart said. "We can produce about 40,000 pieces of candy in a day."
Customers come from miles away for the house specialty,
"I'm a caramel cake lover, so why not come for the best on my birthday, all the way from Detroit," customer Kendra Hosdndove said.
"I am always honored when that happens, when people get off planes and make it their first stop, when people drive several miles from cities to get their cake because they're special to them," Hart said.
The baker touched on why it is so important for her to be anchored and stay on 75th Street.
"For people who look like us, and for communities that look like us, to receive tourists and to grow so I'm excited about being here," Hart said.
She also spoke about what her dreams look like from Brown Sugar's future.
"My dream for Brown Sugar is still coming true. I want to give my money back to the people who give money to me. Those who shop here, I want to hire their nieces and nephews," Hart said. "There's no better feeling than the cakes people buy turn into the homes for the people I employ."
Hart says it's rewarding to hire people from the neighborhood, teaching them skills for a lifetime. Her current manager started working for her when she was 17.
Brown Sugar can ship almost anywhere, and customer who just can't wait can arrange to have delivery in Chicago.