Today we’d like to introduce you to Kavi Vu and Jane Ewe.
Kavi and Jane, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The idea of Sweet Hut came to be when one of our founders, Patrick Ewe, fell in love with going to local bakeries on Buford Highway for bread. This feeling reminded him and the Ewe family of home in Malaysia, where there are barbecue pork buns and egg tarts sold on every street at any time of day.
At this time almost ten years ago, Atlanta only had small, hole-in-the-wall bakeries that, while delicious, mainly attracted an older-aged Asian audience by word of mouth. The Ewe family wanted to share their love of Asian bakeries with a wider audience that might find trying different cuisines intimidating. And beyond even the food, they wanted Sweet Hut to be a place where communities felt comfortable to come and stay a while as opposed to the stop-and-go bakeries that existed at the time.
They were very intentional with their modern design and plenty of seats to ensure customers would have a go-to place for study sessions, meetings, or just better conversation.
Has it been a smooth road?
In the beginning, our whole family didn’t have much experience in the bakery industry. Though our uncle, Howie Ewe, learned to bake in China, there was still so much for us to learn and there were many months of trial and error to fit a more Americanized palate.
We struggled a lot with being efficient with the amount of quality and quantity we needed and could afford. We can open, but will they come? And how many?
At the time, too, Buford Highway was just a strip of janky strip malls that desperately needed some work. My dad, Patrick, has always been an avid believer that Buford Highway can and will be rejuvenated and loved. It was a hub for Asian communities and ever since we’ve been in the U.S., we always went to Buford Highway to go grocery shopping. We just really liked being there because all the businesses there felt like home.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are an Asian bakery that’s known for our bubble tea, pastries, and desserts. A lot of people recognize us for our slogan, “Stressed spelled backwards is Desserts” or our swirl logo.
When we first opened, there weren’t many bubble tea spots in Atlanta, so that’s probably our claim-to-fame, but now that bubble tea has become a usual spot to hang out for our younger crowd, I like to think what sets us apart is our engagement with the community through marketing.
What we’re really proud of is successfully introducing these Asian breads and drinks that we grew up on to a wider audience that has never stepped foot into Asia before. When we first started, people would ask us what is this bun or what is bubble tea. Now, we’ve been able to build a base and people are willing to try different menu items and we’re so proud of that and them.
We also hope that we’re making our Asian American communities proud too by providing representation that is much-needed in Atlanta beyond black and white. We have really branched out to include a variety of Asian treats in our menu that doesn’t just come from our home country of Malaysia, but hopefully captures a larger essence of Asia and gives many people a taste of home.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that our city (and its metro!) is home to so many cultures and communities. You can discover the whole world in Atlanta if you know where to look and have an open mind, and I love that about our city.
However, I think this is something we celebrate in words but not in actions, which is something I hope we can change. I feel like when we talk about how diverse ATL is, it’s mostly a black and white conversation and I feel very absent as an Asian American person trying to do business and thrive here.
I hope that more Asian American businesses, communities, and families can be recognized as assets to Atlanta as other groups are.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sweethut.com
- Email: kavi@sweethut.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweethutbakerycafe/
- Facebook: facebook.com/sweethutbakery
Image Credit:
Kenny Pham
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
debra lindo
March 21, 2019 at 8:26 pm
We enjoy Sweethut each time we visit as the desserts are delicious. However, whenever we order sandwiches they never get it right. Other than that, great desserts.