Video and photo by Lori King
In this debut of the Definitely … a King podcast, I sat down with 20-year-old entrepreneur Muhammed Abdel-Ghani, owner of So Sweet Lebanese and French Pastries, located in Toledo, Ohio.
What began as a family 12-year venture nearly came to an end five months ago — until Muhammed Abdel-Ghani, 20, decided to rebuild it from the ground up.
Muhammed opens up about the tough family dinner conversation that forced them to choose between closing or starting fresh, and why he decided to be transparent about the bakery’s financial struggles.
Muhammed admits to hard lessons learned along the way; humbly brags about the delicacies that got them this far; and touts the four pillars guiding their newfound vision: a modern, welcoming space; new specialty drink menu; an elevated customer experience; and authentic storytelling on social media.
From flaky baklava and delicate French macarons to hidden-gem Lebanese treats, Mohamed shares the craft, authenticity and community spirit that sets So Sweet apart from other bakeries.
This episode captures the heart and hustle behind every pastry case and coffee cup at So Sweet Lebanese and French Pastries, where customers can now pull up a chair, enjoy the scent of fresh baked goods, and join its inspiring journey of sweet success that has all led up to its grand reopening on August 9 at 10 a.m.
(Recorded on Aug. 4)
