Meet Jamiella Roberts of Sugah Rush Bar in Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamiella Roberts.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jamiella. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Sugah Rush Bar Company Started when I was 23 years old and married. At the time I was married and a at home mom , my marriage was on the edge of a divorce and as an outlet for my stress, anxiety and fear I would go to the kitchen and bake a box cake every other day. Box cakes is all I knew at the moment and growing up no one baked from scratch in my family. As I baked those box cakes nearly every other day, I would take the cake to my mother’s house and have her try them . One day she sat down and told me, “Jamiella, I think God has finally revealed your calling – I feel you should look into culinary school “. I took her advice and decided to check into The Art Institute Of Los Angeles located in Santa Monica . When I started my first hands-on class called The Fundamentals Of Baking which was 5 hours long, I immediately fell in love and I knew I found my passion. At this point and time, I was separated in my marriage and my mother encouraged me a lot to go forth with becoming a pastry chef. From school, I would go straight to the kitchen for hours – kept both of my boys  occupied and practice baking daily. Balance is the key I told myself. I decided to start baking everything from scratch and sending cookies and cupcakes to my mother’s job as she sold them for me during her graveyard shift. Oh Boy, did they sell out due to them being delicious but also the sweets kept the doctors and nurses up during their shift. I would literally stay in the kitchen morning to midnight throwing away pastries that didn’t come out correctly and practicing and trying until it came out perfect. I never gave up. I stopped school after the first class I took and start self-teaching myself from YouTube to researching on the internet. I love school and I’ve even thought about going back since my life is more balanced and I’m stress-free , but it can be a challenge due to me being a single mom of two boys, running a business and working a 2nd job at the moment. Once I got in the groove of baking items consistently, I came up with a business name called Sugah Rush Bar. Not only as a kid I loved sugar but I thought it was catchy and it would draw the women, men and children crowd  in. The Sugah Rush Bar became a hit all over social media and even though it took some time to grow, I did it. I’ve had this business for five years and I started from nothing. Literally not a dollar in my pocket. I used what I had and what was in my mother’s house. I slept on the floor with two kids after my divorce when deciding to move back in with my mom – staying up day and night taking orders to makes a better living for boys and I. I knew I wanted this dream and I knew I wanted it to come to life. I was and am in love with baking. There was no such thing called sleep and there still is no sleep for me. As I grew, I got my own apartment and I finally had my own space to feel comfortable with my passion in my own kitchen. I took the time to post every day, to promote every day, to make calls, and  to answer email. There are times I don’t sleep for three days due to orders. I would get off my graveyard shift and go straight to orders and then attending to my boys and back to work and repeat. And this still continues currently . I have worked so hard that God has blessed me with celebrity clients from Holly Robinson Peete, Tina Lawson, Robert Christopher Riley, Adai Lamar, Columbus Short  etc. My goal for 2020 is to have a cupcake truck and eventually a storefront. Nothing comes easy in life and if it wasn’t for me going through the test and trials I’ve been through and is currently going through, I wouldn’t have found my passion. My life may not have been the best route when I was young but my boys have made me work triple times harder for my business because I am building something for us and I want them to know that “ mommy did this for us “ “ mommy worked hard to provide “. Having a business with two boys, I have experienced break downs while baking, stress due to lack of sleep, happiness due to completion of an order , falling on my knees and praising God due to how he continues to provide for my little family. Without this business, I wouldn’t know what to do. I love every bit of this struggle and I will make it out. Everything is on Gods timing and I’m waiting for my grand entrance patiently.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a business owner and a single mom, no this has not been a smooth road at all, far from it. It has taught me strength – and what doesn’t  break me makes me stronger. I had to have faith and believe all is possible with God on your side when he stays in the midst of what you are desiring. While being a mom, I have to learn balance. Showing attention to my boys and still trying to give my attention to social media regarding business and clients all over the world. I’ve had to cancel a lot of things due to I take care of my boys 98% of the time so I couldn’t attend all events that dealt with baking. I have sacrificed friendship because they didn’t understand that I didn’t have the time to hang and attend their events because my passion is more important at this moment. I have sacrificed not dating for five years to get myself mentally and physically together until I knew that I was on a level ground and I was ready to receive love. Most people who aren’t entrepreneurs don’t understand sacrificing let alone being a single parent . I have sacrificed a lot and till this day it’s just me. I rarely have friends, I don’t have a dating life and my attention is on my boys and business and trying to survive and make sure we make it and my dream can come true. Five years in and even though it’s taking a bit longer than I expected, it’s all on Gods timing. It can be discouraging at times but I’ve learned to cast those thoughts down and keep pushing and looking at brighter days. I thank God for my mother Marcelena Campbell because she supports me to the moon and back and believes in my dream. Even though I’ve built this business on my own from nothing and no help I look back like wow – I divorce with a four-year-old while I was pregnant with my unborn not knowing what I’d do and where I’d go and look at me now. I did it. I did not let depression or fear take me out and destroy my dream of me wanting my own store/cupcake truck out of life. No matter what all is possible with God on your side and the most important thing in life is to keep on pushing and never give up.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sugah Rush Bar story. Tell us more about the business.
Sugah Rush Bar is known for its delicious cupcakes. We have over 50 flavor cupcakes and all are extremely delicious, moist and all made from scratch. I specialize in cupcakes as my goal is to have a cupcake shop (storefront) and a franchise business. I also make dessert jars such as cheesecake in a jar, pudding in a jar and cake in a jar. We sell cake pops, cookies, and pies as well. Even though my goal is to focus on cupcakes and little items, in the long run, I tend to do a variety of pastries currently and also customization due to it helps me with bills. I am most proud of it surviving within these last five years. Meaning that my brand hasn’t died down and it’s not unknown but better yet has blown up. What sets me apart from other companies is that my customer service is impeccable, and my pastries are not manufactured. Everything is made with love and hard work. I want to make sure that things are detailed and neat and not just slapped on a cake.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
The role that is good and bad luck pertaining to my business , I would say is being a business owner. Everything falls on you if something goes wrong but also unspeakable joy is surrounding you when things go right. It’s pros and cons to it. It’s not easy nor is it hard when it comes to something you love. I have to remember that I am a boss and I am a strong woman I have to take responsibility for everything Sugah Rush Bar encounters.

Pricing:

• Non Customized cupcakes Range from $21.00-$45.00 a dozen

Contact Info:

• Phone: 424-570-5981
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Sugahrushbar
• Facebook: Sugah Rush Bar
• Yelp: Sugah Rush Bar

Image Credit:
2nd Photo with Donuts – Philicia Scott Photography

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