by Claire Zou
“This veggie lasagna is so fresh and delicious,” said one of the patrons of With Love, Co. A forty- year vegan, the customer told Jacqueline Bellamy-Bey, the owner of With Love, Co., how excited she was to learn that a plant-based eatery had just opened up in Parkville. Between sips of pineapple smoothie and mouthfuls of raw vegetable lasagna, we chatted with Jac and got the scoop on how her business has transformed since winning the Kiva Baltimore Pitch Competition in January 2019 and successfully fundraising $10,000 through the platform.
“Everything just started falling in place,”
“Everything just started falling in place,” said Jac. The biggest milestone for her and her husband, Wadud, was opening their first brick-and-mortar location in Parkville, MD. The process started in March when they were debating between a space on Falls Road and a Parkville location. While the Falls Road spot did not work out, they fell in love with the Parkville spot because it came with a finished kitchen and lush backyard that would be ideal for outdoor events or a garden. Within a week of deciding on Parkville, close friends and family pledged money to help get With Love, Co. off the ground. By combining their Kiva campaign with other funding avenues, Jac and Wadud were able to purchase the building by April.
Unsure of what to expect, they set a soft opening date for mid-July. In the months leading up to the big day, Jac and Wadud worked nonstop to curate their ideal plant-based menu and to reimagine the space in their own vision. Their passion and dedication was the mobilizing force for the many business lessons they would learn. On July 15th, dozens of people showed up at With Love, Co. to support for the new neighborhood eatery. “The whole day was a blur of positive and loving energy. I didn’t realize how many people came to opening day until I saw the pictures,” said Jac. Since their opening, she and Wadud have kept busy running the business. They don’t have many marketing worries, as most of their customers hear about With Love, Co. by word of mouth, which is a testament to the supportive community that has surrounded them since the beginning.
The question on everyone’s mind is when With Love, Co. is planning to expand. Jac says she sees their business staying in Parkville for another two years, at least. She and Wadud want to streamline their process before moving on to the next step. Once they do, they hope to establish another location in Baltimore City where they can connect more people to healthy and delicious eating.
From selling juices at farmer’s markets to running their own brick-and-mortar, Jac and Wadud are looking to the future of With Love, Co. Jac said she and Wadud feel blessed that their daughter gets to see her parents creating and living out their dream. Everything about this journey has felt surreal for their family, and the success of With Love, Co. has only inspired them to do more. Jac and Wadud’s story has been a celebration here at Kiva Baltimore, we are excited to see what the future holds for With Love, Co. Stories like theirs are the best part of the work we do.
Learn more about Kiva Baltimore: from crowdsourcing small business loans, to Kiva success stories and current events, we’re in business to propel equitable business in Baltimore. Visit baltimorecorps.org/kiva