Sweets & Meats owner wins award at a bittersweet time

MT. WASHINGTON – Just four years ago Sweets & Meats BBQ was a fledgling business in the parking lot of the Mt. Washington Creamy Whip.

Kristen Bailey and her partner in life and business, Anton Gaffney, set up their cooker on an 8-foot table they borrowed from a friend and began dishing savory delights.

Today Sweets & Meats BBQ, which serves up smoked meats along with a generous selection of sides and desserts, has a thriving business headquartered in Mount Washington that includes carry-out service, catering and a food truck. 

Bailey attributes the business' growth and success to a faithful customer base and generous support of family, friends, and SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives).

The success is not going unnoticed.

Earlier this week Bailey was honored as 2018 Client of the Year by SCORE’s Greater Cincinnati chapter. The award came with a $3,000 prize.

SCORE is the volunteer arm of the Small Business Administration. Its 100-plus mentors provide no-cost mentoring and low-cost small business workshops for entrepreneurs.

Bailey's mentor, Mike Mulligan, provided critical support. He helped her develop a business plan, hire staff, and secure financing for their various business ventures.

Mulligan offered a wealth of knowledge, Bailey said. He’s a great mentor, sounding board, and sometimes therapist, she said.

Honored to receive the SCORE award, it was a bittersweet moment for Bailey. Just four weeks earlier her mom, Michelle Bailey, died unexpectedly.

During the awards ceremony, the chair next to Bailey, where her mom would have sat, was empty. A poignant reminder of her loss.

Bailey closed Sweets & Meats for a week while she addressed family business and made final arrangements for her mom.

Bailey's mom played a critical role in the Sweets & Meats success story. She and others, including Gaffney's friend Nedra Lang, volunteered many hours helping the business grow. Lang is now assistant manager at Sweets & Meats.

Others who contributed to business success include Bailey's grandmother, Carolyn Twomey, also now deceased, who provided $10,000 to help buy the food truck, Bailey said.

Other support came from special programs and organizations. Bailey took advantage of an entrepreneurship hub program in Cincinnati. She secured an interest-free loan from KIVA, a nonprofit organization that allows people to lend money to low-income entrepreneurs and students. She crowdsourced funding through Indiegogo.

The $3,000 that accompanies the SCORE award couldn’t come at a better time. The week Sweets & Meats was closed came at a high cost. There was no money coming in for that week, but expenses such as payroll continued.

Bailey recognizes all that she and Gaffney have accomplished, but they aren’t resting on their laurels. Their long-term goal is to open a sit-down restaurant. They are actively looking for a place in the Mount Washington vicinity.

In the meantime, business goes on. Sweets & Meats is taking Thanksgiving orders. Smoked turkey, smoked spiral cut ham, side dishes, and desserts are all on the menu. To place an order call, 513-888-4227. Or visit them on Facebook at Sweets and Meats or online at www.sweetsandmeatsbbq.com.