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Meet Leon Miles of Treats By lee in Marietta

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Leon Miles.

Leon, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Who doesn’t love food? My love for food started when I was about eight years old. I practically grew up in the kitchen. I can remember like it was yesterday asking my mom to show me how to make breakfast and my love for food grew from there. I grew up in a large family of 12 brothers and sisters, 6 Boys and 6 girls. So the holidays at our home we’re always busy. I would enjoy helping my mom and grandma prepare food for the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Growing up with such a large family, I took on cooking, being that I have such a large family. Going into school and being that I played sports and was well involved in school activities, which all cost, I wanted to find a way to make extra cash.

I knew that I didn’t want to sell candy and snacks like most people. I felt there was already enough of that floating around the school. Who wouldn’t want something fresh? That’s when I came up with the idea to bake some treats and take a few to school to see how they would sell. Before I had made it to my second class, I had sold out of everything. Then I knew that I was on to something. I ran track after school so every day, almost I would come home from practice and I’d stay up until 2 am—baking for the next day. On average, I would take two full-sized boxes, one filled with cupcakes and the other with chocolate covered strawberries and a track duffel filled with other treats. My treats didn’t only sell among my peers but my teachers & staff bought from me as well. Being able to sell treats helped me keep up with all my extra activities.

Has it been a smooth road?
In 2017 my freshman year of college I found myself hanging with the wrong crowd. I was in college on a Full Track & Field scholarship ended up getting myself in trouble and was arrested on several charges, which landed me in jail, my bond was denied and if you know anything about the Legal System, pretty much I was just sitting in jail unable to even get bonded out to go home. That was the start of what I thought was the worst days of my life. I can remember the day like yesterday. I can remember crying after talking to my mom because I had never been in any type of trouble on that large scale. I felt like my life was over and it was the end for me. All I could think to myself was that. How did I go from this all-star Well known athlete to this? My life was over. I had lost everything. I had been in Jail for five months, days passed slowly. And the holidays even slower. I had spent Christmas and Thanksgiving in jail with people & food I didn’t want. I’m all about family so to spend those times in jail, I was miserable. Once my mom Had hired a lawyer and I was finally given a bond.

On December 27, 2017, I was released from the Raymond Detention Center. Remembering my name being called to go home, I was the happiest because God had finally answered my prayers. When I thought the legal problems were all over the course of two years, I was offered a 25-year plea bargain or take my case to trial. I declined the deal. My last offer before my case could go to trial I me and my family met with my Lawyer and my last offer was 15 years I again declined and asked if we could get another offer. I was offered 15 years with most of my time suspended and to serve five months in the Mississippi Dept. of corrections. In May 2019, I went back to prison. All of what I thought was over. Yet again, another experience I’ll never forget nor regret. I spent my 22nd birthday in prison. It was again the worst time of my short 22 years of living. On September 27th, I was released. I had my mind made up that I would leave Mississippi in search of starting my life over with determination to pick back up where I left off. Since then, nothing has been Easy. Finding employment, dealing with depression because of so and life it’s self. And Treats By Lee was brought to life in a new and different way. Not only but also, I plan to attend the 2021 Olympic Trials with hopes of making the USA Olympic team, which is solely self-funded. So anyone willing to sponsor or support I’d greatly appreciate it

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I wanted Treats By Lee To be something that stood out and that was different, something that was just as unique as myself. Running track for me I always wanted to stand out no just by ru. I gotcha great but I wanted to also look great. So when you see a treat by Lee, you know it’s something different because not only do they taste great, they’re always eye catching something to look at. Colors, presentation, artwork and most importantly, taste in every treat are things I focus on. I offer treats from Different flavors of brownies, cakes, cupcakes, even cookies. A lot of my treats are inspired by things that I enjoyed growing up as a kid but with a twist.

For example, Cookies and cream ice cream, Reese’s cups, strawberry lemonade are some flavors that you can be expected to make into treats at Treats By Lee. Not only treats but since I’ve branched off into the food side of the business. Food Orgasm by Treats By Lee is my Food catering and event side of things. I recently branched into the food side of things. Just like Treats By Lee, you can expect crazy inspired food creations and drink names that inspired me. Drinks like the “Big-Ole-Freak” and “Panty Droppa” or a platter named “The Orgasm”. In spite of the life challenges, I’m striving at doing what I love & that is cooking. 

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I would say that Atlanta as a whole is great for business as long as you have a plan and you have great ideas that make you different from anyone else. You can’t be scared to let your ideas and brand speak for itself. For someone just starting off, I would say that the area is great as long as you know how to market your products or service. People are very supportive of small business, especially small BLACK owned businesses. I’m grateful for the opportunities and even more grateful for the incoming support from strangers. Knowing that there are other people who love and enjoy my service and II enjoy doing it, I’ll keep doing it. Why do something that you don’t enjoy doing? My advice to anyone out there wanting to start big or small. If you stick with what you love doing, you will succeed at it. It may not move or grow as fast as you want but respect patience and the growth from the start.

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