Paradise Desserts is the new in-house bakery at Brewer Coffee and Custard in Chicago. Photos: Haroon Rajaee

CHICAGO—Paradise Desserts recently held its grand opening inside Brewer Coffee and Custard at 1008 W. 79th St. in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.

Brewer Coffee and Custard is a hybrid coffee and frozen custard shop that has been at this location for approximately five years. When approached by the owners of Paradise Desserts—husband and wife Michael and Nneka Muhammad, along with their daughter, Tasnim, to collaborate—they jumped at the opportunity to work together.

“Paradise Desserts, LLC, has an excellent set of delicious desserts! When combined with Brewer Coffee and Custard’s frozen dessert offerings, the two of them produced a value proposition for our customers,” said Elijah Brewer, owner of Brewer Coffee and Custard. “The owners appear to value similar things—family heritage, community and a commitment to improve the wellbeing of our young people.”

Sis. Nneka Muhammad, co-owner of Paradise Desserts, at Oct. 1 grand opening inside Brewer Coffee and Custard.

Along with their signature and first product, the bean pie, which they offer in a variety of flavors such as apple, cheese, caramel, blueberry cream and strawberry banana, they have expanded to offer cakes, cookies, and butternut squash pie.

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People traveled from all around the city eager to taste both the baked goods, coffee and custards at the Oct. 1 grand opening. “This is absolutely needed in the Black community because it’s wholesome, clean and organic ingredients going into the desserts that are being served in our community,” said Nahla Carmella Coqmard-Muhammad, owner of Let’s Eat to Live and The Foodie Spot. “It’s changing the way we eat sweets.”

“It just feels amazing to have, particularly our believing family, come to support us. Our goal is really to be of service in our community and we wouldn’t even be here if it was not for the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and do for self,”

Said Tasnim Muhammad, the youngest member of this family-owned business. “That was a big inspiration for us. We just want to keep growing and do more and more for our community.”

“My wife actually taught me how to make the bean pie 25 years ago,” said Paradise Desserts co-owner Michael Muhammad, who talked about the importance of collaboration for mutual benefit. “It’s a good opportunity to marry our products with their products and we help each other grow.”

“It’s Nation time. It’s about Nation building and this is what small businesses do. We are the engine of the Nation’s economy. That’s what we want to do for establishing our Nation, the Kingdom of God on earth.

Follow them on Instagram @paradisedessertsllc, or call 773-678-3248 for more information.