Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawnae Dixon.
Hi Shawnae, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am currently the owner of Shaw-naé’s House Soul Food restaurant. I established my business during the pandemic following a transcendent experience with death. Passing away in the witness of my children and husband after living a holistic, healthy balanced life was a literal wake-up call that life was just beginning. On my first lap around the earth, I scoured the world for meaning, practicing how to be everything but me. I lived to help people and trained to be a counselor, educator and aid to all. I obtained two master’s degrees while growing and grooming my family. Then God sent me a message. The spirit said, “You haven’t lived yet. The time is now. Quit your job and be the source for healing people with your gifts to handle and serve blessed food.” I quit and wrote a book. I sat in my attic for five days and published a book in ten days. That led to a crazy run with the entertainment industry. I worked with Charlamagne, Lil Kim, Ed Norton, Teddy Riley and hundreds more without social media or a business card. Just a product that spoke on my behalf. Companies of all kinds hired me to cater, MLB, Fox, Papa Johns, Iheart, Snap Chat, Instagram, Viacom also to name drop a few. I am only expressing the favor of God that was called on my life because I trusted that the spirit was covering me. This run went on until I no longer couldn’t a premonition told me 9/11 was coming; this was four years before.
On 9/11/2020, my son found me unresponsive and after being resuscitated and in a coma, I woke up to an even larger life. The pandemic taught me how to hold on to promise and my restaurant has birthed new ideas, new opportunities and exciting visions that will last my lifetimes. I am the HERb& Flour, the brand SHE created to empower and inspire others to live boldly while prospering. I can’t leave out that I am the improved version of my anointed ancestors who were the first to purchase land in Staten Island, New York. The land is documented to be a cultivator of free blacks providing jobs and community. It is the oldest inhabited space by its original descendants in the country and developed wealth among Blacks during difficult times. It showed me after learning that I was born to do this and my ancestors left a beautiful stain of life, liberty and prosperity by perseverance.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Death, poverty, and declining health tried to destroy by the God I serve is the cure for all things impossible and possible. I won!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Shaw-naé’s House?
My restaurant held a Google 5 star rating until it became a phenomenon. 1 review out of all showed others that there was something special happening in my place of business. People from all over the world travel to my restaurant solely because they want to know if the hype is real about my authentic and unique reviews.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I am the secret ingredient and key to my life’s work and success. Without me, there is no brand like me. I hold close to my uniqueness and respect God for being specific in how he created me to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: saygraceny.com
- Instagram: iamshawnae, theherbandflour, shawnaeshouse
- Facebook: Shaw-naé’s House
- Youtube: the herb & flour
- Yelp: Shaw-naé’s House
