Actress and vegan influencer Tabitha Brown showed up for one local restaurant in a big way. Chef Nikki In The Mix, the owner of Vegan House of Pancakes, had met Brown in 2018 and maintained a relationship with her throughout the years.
The chef and her partner, Grey, opened their East Point, Georgia, business in their home kitchen. Nikki was simply baking pancakes for her family when Grey suggested she sell them, declaring they were “some of the best pancakes he’d ever had.”
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The concept led her to set up “Nikki’s Fat A** Cakes,” which is an allergy-friendly vegan pancake mix. The vegan dish caught off, and she built a loyal fan base over time.
The pair, however, recently made the decision to create their first physical store in Georgia and appealed to the public for assistance through GoFundMe to cover the last expenses.
“We’ve made incredible progress renovating a commercial kitchen to meet health department codes. I’ve poured thousands of dollars into this project, but I need your help to bring this vision to life,” a message on the fundraising page read.
When Brown and her family stopped in Georgia recently, she went to the new restaurant to sample the pancakes and left a positive comment on social media.
She captioned the video, “Atlanta!!!!!! Baaabbbyyy yall got a pot of gold called [Vegan House of Pancakes]. When I tell you these pancakes are everything!!! Well just look at how my family didn’t even wait to go sit down and eat…and that will tell you everything you need to know. Yall be sure to go support this amazing family and eat good!!!”
According to BOTWC, the pancakes are known for their fluffy vegan recipe, offering a gluten free option for Brown as well. Everyone raved about the food and following Brown’s visit, the restaurant experienced their busiest day. And while Nikki and Grey were overly appreciative of the public stamp of approval, the blessings didn’t stop there.
Just 20 minutes after Brown left their restaurant, they received a notification from GoFundMe that their fundraising goal had been met.
“Oh my God! Look at that,” Grey could be heard in a video screaming before showing Nikki the GoFundMe.
The goal was originally $8,000. But after a surprise $10,000 donation from Brown, the Vegan House of Pancakes exceeded their goal, raising more than $14,000.
Nikki, Grey, and their squad let out celebratory cries as they sat in the aftermath of what had occurred. A squad member captured the scene, which Brown later uploaded.
“[Tabitha Brown] that $10,000 was a TRUE BLESSING and above and beyond our expectations!! It’s going to help us out SO MUCH!! Now we can enhance the customer experience, hire new staff, and buy a new grill to help with the influx of customers who came out [because] of you! We are truly grateful for you! You will always have a home in our hearts!,” Chef Nikki wrote.
However, Brown saw the support as a natural part of her and another opportunity to help someone else realize their dreams.
Brown wrote on Instagram, “We are all better together. Blessed to be a blessing!!! As a small business owner, I know that a wrothelping hand is sometimes all we need. I’m so proud of yall…Keep believing, keep going, and keep being you!”
