Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenrick Wilson.
Hi Kenrick, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our Bakery, Teeters Dessert and Bakery grew from a lost passion that was rekindled during a major crossroads in my life. After losing out on what I thought was my dream job, I was left in no man’s land, and faced a tough decision:
What I should do with my life?
I started to blame myself for yet again failing to accomplish the goals I had set; my partner was there by my side, telling me that I’ll find what’s right for me in time.
That day came in April of 2023 when I had a conversation with a colleague about baked goods. After mentioning that I used to make them years ago, and hearing me describe the things I created, she pushed me to try again since I seemed so passionate about it. Without even realizing it, I had rediscovered my love for baking.
I had to shake off a ton of rust – it’d been over 7 years since I last baked after all – but with each dessert, I began to regain my skill. As happy I was with each new dish, seeing how much happier people were eating them made me realize this *was* my passion. So, I began to brainstorm: what good can come out of this…?
And “Teeters Desserts and Bakery” was born.
Now, the inspiration behind the name “Teeters” comes from the last name of the most meaningful person in the world to me: my partner. They have constantly pulled my head out of the clouds whenever I was lost in self-doubt and have saved me from some of the darkest places in my life. Besides – come on: “Teeters” is a freaking awesome name.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I will say it hasn’t been a smooth road, I’ve always had a ton of pressure on me since I was late elementary/middle school and throughout the rest of my academic career. I was the kid family and friends compared there kids to. On top of feeling like anything I did fun or passion wise was pushed to say hey you can make money off of this, that and the third. All that pressure had been building up through the years and it finally reached a boiling point in my first week of college. In the middle of my major class architecture, I caught myself breaking down and crumbling under all the pressure that was put on my shoulders making me spiral and flame out.
That flame out started really dark time for me I fell into a very deep depression and honestly on the verge of self harm and other dark things. It felt like I was drowning, that when I heard something that completely devastated and shattered what I had hope wise left in me. I heard the person I looked up to the most call me weak minded and saying I can’t believe he gave up, not knowing I could hear them hurt like hell. I found myself sitting in a dark room everyday and night feeling like a failure from the person I idolize or that vision of who I thought they were.
After awhile I tried to reach out to another person who I thought would take the time to actually help me but hearing that person tell me “I don’t know what to tell you, figure it out.” I officially felt completely alone and the people I loved unconditionally, didn’t try to help me and instead pushed me into that deep dark hole that lasted from 2019 to 2022.
But during those dark years I met a person who if I could go back to myself in those dark days and give him a hug for being willing to interact with that friend even at our all time lowest. I would tell myself you have no idea what’s ahead of you and thank you for responding to that friend it changed our whole life years down the road. That friend began to let me open up about my past without feeling judged or someone is gonna retaliate or even worse get over it. That friend slowly built my confidence up and began to show what it means to have someone who cares about you with no strings attached or ways to screw me over. It was my turning point.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well for my work outside of my bakery. I currently work at the Newark Museum in a Vistitor Experience Assistant role, and honestly being in the hospitality business is something I truly enjoyed doing. Nothing beats interacting with guest and greeting them with a warm welcome and hearing the stories they love to share about the museum past. But I originally started off as a Gallery Host, I was in charge of keeping flow of the art galleries, making sure things didn’t getting touched or damaged. Can’t forget interacting and making dialogue with the patrons about the art pieces and giving them tips and info that I gathered from others it’s such an amazing job. But all that hard work and being told that I was the gold standard of a Gallery Host by current boss at the time, it culminated me being promoted to Visitor Experience Assistant and putting right in the front of interacting with guest which I live for.
I’ve been told by others that my energy and personality is very infectious and makes people days better and happier. Which is something I take pride in, I love making people day even if it’s just a simple hello with a smile just seeing there moods change from whatever they’re feeling into happiness and cheer, even if it’s for that interaction it gives them that break from life tension and stress. Pairing my amazing customer service skills and love for hospitality alongside with my deep love of baking, I basically got a match made in heaven career wise. Biggest thing being, it what I want to do.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
To be honest what makes the most happy is my partner Trevor, he was the friend I alluded to at the end of me describing my hardships and struggles earlier. He was that friend pulled me out of that dark place from the 2019-2022 and has stuck by my side ever since. He has shown me time and time again what it means to be love and care for unconditionally. It took a lot of time to help me build my confidence back up, but this time it was the real me not the person others wanted me to be. He’s the reason who I am today and why I’m able to write this article for you all today. He’s been so patience and motivating throughout the years we’ve been together and as friends, I truly owe a lot of who I am and how much I’m about to flourish to his deep love and care about me. He just keeps me going anytime I’m down or my heads in the clouds he’ll pull me back down and keeps me grounded, which is something invaluable and precious to me.
In turn I put that same energy into everything I do and bake, and I thought during the planning stages of creating this bakery I need a name that’s impactful not only to me but stands out. That’s when it eventually hit me to use his last name. I was hesitant at first but it made so much sense to me. It not only stands out name wise, but it has a ton of meaning, weight and love behind which is everything a bakery should encapsulate, and that’s how Teeters Dessert and Bakery came to life.
Pricing:
- Cookies and Brownies: $24 – $81
- Cakes and Cheesecake: $40 – $97
- Pastries: $19.50 – $84
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.teetersdesserts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teeters_dessertsbakery?igsh=cWIzeGhidDhhYTQx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EExEZCoVi/
