This week, during Black History Month, we are featuring Sugar Rays Sweet Shop as our business highlight of the week. There are so many incredible businesses throughout the state of Mississippi and we want to highlight some of them!
Owner and founder of Sugar Ray’s Sweet Shop, Jessica Davenport, shared her story and inspiration behind this delightful online sweet shop, born right in the heart of downtown Jackson.
About The Owner Jess Davenport:
Source: Sugar Rays Website
Jess has many years of experience in the hospitality industry. Combine that with a love of sweets, and Jess decided to create this fun and literally sweet business.
Jess describes herself as a foodie, hospitality expert, customer service enthusiast, and mental health advocate.
She grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and spent her entire working career in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry. Jess is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson and a new member of Mississippi Black Leadership Institute. She participated and got very involved with several boards in the city and community and made it her mission to create opportunities for everyone regardless of race, status, or gender, to access good food.
When Jess is not in the kitchen, she is an Account Manager at the Tell Agency. She assists with helping brands tell their stories through social media management.
2016: Sugar Ray’s Sweet Shop Opens In Downtown Jackson
In 2016, Jess wanted to help revitalize downtown Jackson and decided to develop a nostalgia candy store. She created Sugar Ray’s Sweet Shop, a candy and confection store that believed in creating sweet experiences.
Sugar Ray’s was born in 2016. The store opened in the Cohen Brothers Building downtown. It boasted homemade cinnamon rolls, delectable candies, and the most charming atmosphere!
“We need a space that was light, bright, and fun. After consulting with my friend, Mary Sanders Ferris Cavicchi of Ferriss and Company, she mentioned creating a candy store. In two weeks, we had a store concept created, designed, and opened.
We wanted to create a space that would make everyone feel like a kid again. A place where you could come and feel happy. A place that created a sense of nostaglia. A sweet place that would created an opportunity to experience something different.”
After failed partnerships and hard times, Jess decided to close down the store and focus on building her personal skills. She got her Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Accounting from Jackson State University and her Master of Science in Leadership from Belhaven University in Jackson.
2020: Sugar Ray’s Sweet Shop Shifts To Online Store
In March of 2020, Jess said she decided to rebuild, refocus, and restructure Sugar Ray’s into an e-commerce pop-up brand. As Covid took over across the world, businesses were forced to become innovative and creative in their strategies.
In doing so, Jess launched a cinnamon roll line that has since been named “the best in town”.
You can place your order online and have it delivered anywhere in the United States.
“These rolls are hand-crafted deliciousness. All of the rolls and toppings are handmade in-house with premium crafted extracts, spics, and toppings to bring the best cinnamon roll swirls to you wherever you are because Sugar Ray’s now ships throughout the United States.”
The focus of the online business is these melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon rolls, but they also host parties, and pop-up events, and participate in markets.
Sugar Ray’s parties are named “Pour Decisions”. Jess said they like to partner with local businesses and entrepreneurs and create a sweet experience that encompasses libations, food, and fun.
“We like developing an opportunity to activate the brand while enticing individuals to leave the house and join in on the fun.”
In addition to the fun, Jess said a big focus is on giving back. At each “Pour Decision” party, the company gives back to a charitable cause, an organization or a person in need.
Inspiration Behind The Business:
When we asked Jess what inspired her to start this business, she said it was her dad.
He has been her biggest inspiration and was a serial entrepreneur. She described him as fun, creative, and a marketing genius.
“He raised me and he always encouraged me to do more and see more. He taught me to dream. In a sense, he never made me believe that I had bad ideas. He encouraged me to think outside of the box. He made me believe that I could do anything if I did the work.”
Jess said there wasn’t a day she didn’t see her dad working hard. He was a problem-solver and a strategic thinker. She said that, although he passed away in 2009, he gave her the tools that she is using today and has really helped her throughout her career and life.
Why You Love Mississippi:
When asked why she loves the state of Mississippi and owning a business here, Jess said “why not”? Mississippi has always been her home.
I love southern hospitality. Mississippi is home to good food, music, and people. How could I not have a business here?”
Mississippi is home to many roots that spread across the country. Everyone has a relative that is from or lives in Mississippi.
“We love hard. We are innovative. We are creative”
You can visit Sugar Ray’s Sweet Shop by clicking here to visit their website and order your own cinnamon rolls or candies to try!
You can also check them out on Facebook!
