We had the good fortune of connecting with Sumiyyah Harvey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sumiyyah, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I am from the East Coast, a fairly even split between NY/NJ/VA. But my parents owned several bakeries throughout my childhood in both Virginia Beach & Norfolk, Virginia. Growing up in a family owned business had a significant impact on who I am today. I learned the importance of hospitality and that having an amazing product wasn’t enough. My parents made sure I understood it wasn’t enough to get them in the door, we need to keep them coming back, otherwise we can’t eat. And so those are some of the lessons I’ve brought with me to my own bakery. Building relationships with my customers and being an active part of the community are integral parts of who we are, and I have my upbringing to thank for that.

What should our readers know about your business?
Miya’s Munchies is a small bakery and catering company located in Spring, TX. We specialize in scratch made baked goods; namely our buttermilk biscuits in over a dozen flavors, our savory pot pies and our brunch boxes. We pride ourselves on our use of high quality ingredients in all of our items that are truly unique. We took the plunge in 2018 and truly committed to this passion of mine. We learned the market and saw what was being offered out there, and realized we had something different enough. For example, charcuterie boards are all the rage these days and we do sell quite a few of them ourselves, but at the end of the day anyone can throw some meat and cheese on a platter. So we wanted to remain unique in that regard. How could we stand out from the rest? So we make sure that every single one of our boards includes a plethora of scratch made items that you can’t buy at the grocery store. We want to remain unique in that regard. We got where we are today by nothing short of sheer will and determination. We persevered through so many obstacles because we had faith that this was our what we were meant to be doing. It took a while for my son to buy in. He always supported and encouraged, but it wasn’t until he himself began making the biscuits that he was fully “bought in.” Now we are practically partners and are working together to build this crazy dream of mine. One of the most valuable lessons I had to learn was that you could be blessed with countless numbers of supporters and cheerleaders, but you have to be comfortable with doing the hard parts alone. Hopefully you never have to, but be prepared and know that’s ok. Some of my darkest times in this whole journey was when I was constantly being reminded that at the end of the day, I am Miya and this is my passion not theirs, and so I need to make it happen. They always say it’s lonely up top and I’m starting to learn that. But again, my support base is mind blowing and I am utterly humbled and grateful to have them. I wouldn’t be here without them. But this is an insane commitment and you have to be ok with being alone if needed.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man that’s a hard one as I never get out! But we’re in Spring so I would opt for a night out in The Woodlands. Happy Hour at Tris, concert at the Pavilion, and drinks along the waterway. It’s been so long since I’ve hung out in Houston I don’t even know the new spots anymore.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
As cliched as it may be, my mom! She taught me how to bake from a very young age but growing up in the bakery, I was in charge of running the front of house. So I didn’t bake nearly as much as I do know. So when I took on this endeavor, I was in for a rude awakening! But my mom walked me through it and helped me finesse my skill, all while being over 1,300 miles away! Lots of phone calls and FaceTimes. She comes into town when I have a huge event and will work through the night with me! And when she can’t come, she always just a phone call away offering me endless guidance and support.

Website: www.miyasmunchies.com
Instagram: @miyasmunchiesllc
Facebook: @miyasmunchiesllc

Image Credits
Inspired Photography by Sara

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