Meet Shawn Brown | Shawn Brown | Founder of Cheesecaked® & Community-Based Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shawn Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting Cheesecaked was never just about dessert, it was about purpose. I grew up with family recipes passed down from my grandmother, and baking always felt like love and legacy in action. After experiencing profound loss and going through some of the hardest seasons of my life, I realized I wanted to create something that brought people joy, something that reminded them that sweetness can still exist even after heartbreak.

My thought process was simple: I wanted to build a space where creativity, comfort, and celebration could live. Cheesecaked became my way of turning pain into something beautiful, and it grew into a brand rooted in resilience, community, and connection. Every cheesecake is more than a product, it’s proof that you can rebuild, reinvent, and keep going.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cheesecaked is more than a dessert brand, it’s a joy brand. What sets us apart is that everything we create is designed to feel like a celebration. From whimsical cheesecake creations to over-the-top flavors and presentation, Cheesecaked is about giving people a moment of happiness, comfort, and wonder.

The heart of the business started with a family recipe passed down from my grandmother, but the deeper “why” was shaped through my own journey. I’ve experienced profound loss and life-changing challenges, and baking became a way to transform pain into purpose. Cheesecaked was born from the belief that even after the hardest seasons, you can still create something beautiful.

Building this business has not been easy. I’ve navigated setbacks, health challenges, and the realities of entrepreneurship, but each obstacle taught me resilience, creativity, and faith. I learned how to keep going even when things weren’t perfect, how to adapt, and how to build something that connects with people on a deeper level.

What I’m most proud of is that Cheesecaked has become a space where people feel celebrated. It’s a brand rooted in community, storytelling, and the idea that joy can be an act of strength.

I want the world to know that Cheesecaked is proof that your story doesn’t end with what you’ve been through, it can become the foundation for what you build next.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting Atlanta and I wanted to show them the best time, we’d start with an amazing brunch. Breakfast at Barney’s would be first, it’s one of those spots that feels like a treat and the perfect way to start the day.

After that, we’d do a little shopping because Atlanta has some really fun vintage and thrift stores and you can always find something unique. Then I’d take them to the Game Show Experience, it’s such a fun, unexpected activity and honestly makes you feel like a kid again.

For a night vibe, we’d hit up The Painted Duck in Buckhead, it’s an adult bowling lounge with great energy and such a fun atmosphere. It’s one of those places that feels like a whole experience, not just an activity.

For dinner, we’d keep it flavorful and classic with a great Mexican spot like La Parrilla. And if we still had energy, we’d end the night with something a little fun and grown, like a speakeasy vibe. There’s one in Buckhead called MCK that’s a really cool way to wrap up the day.

Atlanta has this perfect mix of good food, creativity, and experiences, there’s always something happening.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my grandmother, who passed down the original recipes that inspired Cheesecaked. Those handwritten family recipes were more than just ingredients, they were legacy, love, and the beginning of something I never could have imagined.

I also want to dedicate this to my son, Jakori, whose life and loss forever shaped the way I see purpose. Cheesecaked was born from a journey through grief and healing, and it has become a way to create joy, even after profound heartbreak.

And to my children, my community, and every person who has supported this dream, thank you for believing in me through every season.

Cheesecaked is proof that something beautiful can still rise.

Website: https://www.cheesecaked.com

Instagram: @cheesecaked

Facebook: www.facebook/getcheesecaked.com