By TNCPNEWS
LANSING, MI – National Entrepreneurship Week occurred from February 10 to 17. It celebrates the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the country and entrepreneurs’ optimistic impact in invigorating their communities and strengthening local economies. Marcus Leslie, Sr., owner of Mr. Leslie’s Cheesecakes, is one shining example of an entrepreneur whose passion for baking has blossomed into a successful small business – with the help of critical partnerships along the way.
For Leslie, the journey began with a simple love for baking that took root during his childhood. “As a child, I would often experiment by making homemade cookies and using my family as taste-testing subjects,” he recalls. However, it wasn’t until after attending a friend’s dinner party where homemade cheesecake was served that he discovered his true passion.
Leslie added, “Having never considered that the traditionally chilled dessert must first be baked like any other cake, I became fascinated with baking cheesecakes on my own.”
What started as baking for family get-togethers and gifting to friends eventually transitioned into a full-fledged business over a decade ago. For over 10 years, Leslie operated his cheesecake business from his home before the opportunity arose to take it to new heights through Lansing’s Allen Neighborhood Center Accelerator Kitchen.
“There would be no Mr. Leslie’s Cheesecakes without Allen Neighborhood Center,” Leslie states emphatically. “Having my own space there allowed me to keep up with the growing demands of my business. The program offered me the opportunity to dive deeper into my culinary business without having to make a large investment in industrial equipment or a leased space.”
Beyond providing affordable kitchen and storage space, the incubator program – which has been supported by Lake Trust Credit Union for many years – was instrumental in Leslie’s entrepreneurial development. “The Center also played an important role in helping me secure my business license and build relationships with other makers in the community,” he notes. “Through the connections I’ve made, I have even had an opportunity to mentor a young man interested in being an entrepreneur one day.”
As Leslie’s cheesecake business continued growing over the past decade, so too did his techniques and strategies for scaling it successfully. “Our goal is the same – spread happiness one slice at a time to the world,” he says. “When I started, we were baking and selling to a smaller audience. In order to scale and do it well, we put systems in place that allow us to bake hundreds of cakes at a time.”
A key turning point came in 2023 when Leslie’s close working relationship with Lake Trust led to a significant opportunity. “We’ve served as a helpful resource for Marcus as he charts a path toward achieving his vision of success,” says Marcus Martin of Lake Trust. “Currently, we are working with him to help access the capital needed to move his business into a larger space that will allow him to meet the demands of his distribution partnership with Meijer.”
Inspired by Leslie’s passion and entrepreneurial journey, Lake Trust recommended him as a candidate for The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’s Elevate Small Business Grant program. He was ultimately selected as a recipient, providing vital funds to fuel the business’s next growth stage.
“Receiving this grant was an incredible accomplishment for me. As a small business, there are many challenges we face, and this grant allows us to continue to grow and impact our community,” Leslie shares. “The funds will help me expand to a larger production space adjacent to my current location at Allen Neighborhood Center. The expanded footprint will allow me to increase my output and better handle larger orders as I scale up distribution.”
Leslie plans to invest in new equipment and storage space with the grant money to ramp up his production capabilities. “The larger space gives me room to add another oven and expand my refrigeration, which will be critical as my Meijer distribution partnership grows. I’ll also finally have the space to bring in additional staff to assist with production.”
For the entrepreneur who has spent over a decade baking out of his home kitchen, the Meijer partnership is the realization of a dream. “It is a dream come true,” he beams. “Our continued growth with Meijer means we can give our customers more happiness anytime they want. It also means we can enhance our community by continuing to teach high schoolers how to start a successful business.”
Leslie emphasizes the importance of taking that first step when asked about the most significant lessons he’s learned on his entrepreneurial journey. “I always say, ‘do it ugly before you do it perfect.’ In other words, don’t wait for the perfect time to start – just start. Once you start and become consistent, you will build trust with your customers and business partners.”
Remembering his original motivation is at the core of managing his love for baking alongside the growing demands of his business. He keeps focused by recalling the importance of his faith and family in driving him forward.
For those aiming to turn their hobbies or passions into a business, Leslie advises not to delay chasing their dreams. He suggests starting immediately, even while working a traditional job, and using the hobby as an additional source of income for themselves and their families. He emphasizes the importance of meticulously documenting the journey to understand what strategies work and which don’t, allowing for continuous adjustment and improvement.
The critical partnerships Leslie has forged – with the Allen Neighborhood Center’s incubator kitchen and Lake Trust Credit Union – have undoubtedly played a vital role in supporting his entrepreneurial growth from a home-based baker to the owner of a flourishing cheesecake business. His journey exemplifies the positive community impact that entrepreneurs can have when they successfully scale their businesses – creating economic opportunities, inspiring others, and spreading a little more happiness, one slice at a time.
