The Bricks Collaborative 716

Brick Collaborative community, we know it’s been a little quiet but we’ve been building behind the scenes 🧱✨

Over the past few months, we’ve been:
✔️ Supporting MWBE certification—and we’re proud to say not only are we certified, but our entire food entrepreneurs peers who took this opportunity with us

Shout out to: Stephanie Spearman Buffalo Soul Food Twisted Icee - Slushie Bar . Thank you to our community partner
✔️ Creating resources for those stepping into their first restaurant space as we expand
✔️ Continuing to pour into our Brick by Brick mentorship program

We’re excited to come back with tools, insights, and real experiences that help you build a strong foundation and sustain your food business. Stay connected💪🏽

Big news for our community 🔑🧱

We’re proud to share that our co-founder, Shai, is now a licensed real estate agent — and this move is strategic.

This isn’t a pivot, It’s an expansion of how we support food entrepreneurs.

For years, we’ve helped you refine your concept, strengthen operations, and build profitable strategies. Now we can help you secure the space to grow.

Here’s what this unlocks for you:

• Finding the right storefront, commercial kitchen, or expansion location
• Support with business proposals and positioning
• Strategic planning backed by 10+ years of hands-on business development experience
• Guidance on purchasing your current location
• Insight into homeownership, investing, and community resources as a founder or for your employees

Many food businesses stall because they don’t understand the real estate side. We’re closing that gap.

If you’re ready to expand, buy, invest, or simply explore your options, let’s talk.

Thankful for our partnership with

We’re excited to welcome Jamila, owner of , to our second Brick by Brick Mentorship Cohort 🍰🧱

Jamila specializes in curated dessert experiences and elevated sweet tables that turn ordinary moments into memorable ones. This is more than baking — it’s presentation, creativity, and brand growth in motion.

Catch the evolution of Mila Sweet Treats live:

📍 The Bricks Downtown
🗓 Every Sunday |
✨ Special Pop-Up Tomorrow | 5PM–8PM

Need a last-minute dessert for Valentine’s weekend? This is your sign.

There’s no better way to close out the weekend than with handcrafted sweets made with intention.

We’re proud to welcome Lameck, founder of , to our second Brick by Brick cohort 👏🏾

Nakata Kula is officially the first Tanzanian food business in Western New York, and that matters. This is culture, representation, and entrepreneurship coming together exactly what this cohort is about.

You can support and experience the journey in real time:
🧱 Pop-ups & food service every Tuesday
🕔 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 The Bricks Downtown, 126 Michigan Ave Buffalo, NY

Join us in welcoming Lameck and celebrating his growth, impact, and momentum..brick by brick.

This year already came in with momentum 🔥

We’ve been serving food businesses through 1:1 consulting and building strong mentorship pipelines — but today’s win is celebrating 3 food entrepreneurs taking the next step by working on their MWBE applications!!

This is critical in Western New York right now. With the new Bills stadium, new vending opportunities, and bigger contracts on the horizon… it’s time to be READY.

Huge thank you to our community partner who brought major knowledge and value to the table. 🙌🏾
Congratulations in advance — you know who you are. 💪🏾🙏🏾🧱🤞🏾

Our final Brick by Brick Alumni Spotlight 🧱✨

Here’s a shoutout to one of our former alumni who completely transformed her business model—
✔️ Pricing strategy based on customer profiles
✔️ Strengthened operational frameworks to support growth and demand
✔️ Leveraged storytelling to elevate her creative marketing strategy

This is what happens when strategy meets intention and support turns into ex*****on. Growth doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built brick by brick.

Stop by The Bricks Downtown today to enjoy a created dish! Brick by brick mentorship cohort 2, applications due today 🥂🧱

Brick by Brick Alumni Spotlight 🧱✨
Nia of

Here’s a shoutout to one of our former alumni who completely transformed her business model
✔️ Increased visibility with expanding on fair grounds
✔️ Strengthened operational frameworks to support growth and hire
✔️ Launch her food trailer and created a marketing strategies community based events

This is what happens when strategy meets intention and support turns into ex*****on. Growth doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built brick by brick.

Monday is the deadline to apply for the 6th mentorship community. Link in bio or DM US!

Brick by Brick Alumni Spotlight 🧱✨

Here’s a shoutout to one of our former alumni who completely transformed her business model—
✔️ Increased visibility with corporate partners
✔️ Strengthened operational frameworks to support growth and demand
✔️ Leveraged storytelling to elevate her creative marketing strategy

This is what happens when strategy meets intention and support turns into ex*****on. Growth doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built brick by brick.

Mentorship applications are open to Monday, join the bricks community!

Huge thank you to our community partner Crystal Morgan of for pouring into our cohort and breaking down how to financially structure your business and gain access to capital.

These conversations matter, especially for food entrepreneurs who aren’t ready for or interested in traditional banking. This industry comes with high costs and heavy overhead, but with the right strategy, creative funding can help you start, grow, and sustain without burning out.

Access + education = options. And options change everything.

If you’re interested in this community learning, apply for our brick by brick mentorship program- designed by food entrepreneurs for food entrepreneurs

The Brick-by-Brick Mentorship Program was created to uplift food entrepreneurs with real business development strategies, increased visibility, and collaborative support to help you sustain and grow.

This 6-month program is intentionally designed with monthly curriculum, group learning, and 2:1 business coaching—so you’re not just learning, you’re actively working on your business goals in real time.

Here’s some flashback to cohort 1… opportunities to bridge the gap on learning marketing strategies with in our cohort meetings to Corporate Visibility with community partnership, and end of program celebration.

If you’re interested in this cohort, apply soon- our space is limited. Thank you those who applied🙏🏾🧱