Meet Viv Lee | Owner, Baker, Sandwich bread maker

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

Hi Viv, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I started bread school, I realized a lot of sandwiches are built on whatever bread is lying around, instead of building sandwiches based on the bread. The bread used in making a sandwich is often an afterthought. I wanted to open a shop in which the bread was a consideration — equally as important as the fillings, because it’s the foundation. I worked in restaurants, worked as a private chef, and started a pop-up. But ultimately the reason I opened Leftie Lee’s was because I was ready to have my own shop where I could make the pastries and breads that I love.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve been in the industry now for going on 15 years, working almost all the positions one could have in the industry. I don’t know that I ever thought opening my own shop would even be possible. I’ve burned out of the industry at least twice and came back each time. I got a piece of advice from someone the last time I left. They told me the restaurant industry is hard but that I didn’t have to do it the way everyone else did. That’s when I started my path to opening my own shop. I started out as a pop up to work through what I wanted a shop to be like once I got there and did that for about 5 years. It wasn’t easy. I had to pick up serving shifts, work as a private chef, and even drive for Instacart at times but I did what I had to. There’s a saying in Korean that my grandfather always said to those around him and I carry it with me. It’s not as poetic translated into English but it’s “you can do it”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hands down the most interesting and fun part about the greater Atlanta area is Buford Highway, coming from a lover of food point of view that is. I’ve actually taken guests from out of town on a food crawl here before. Our first stop was White Windmill for breakfast. Then we went to Buford Highway Farmers Market to walk off all those delicious carbs. I can spend hours at this market; there’s so much to see on every aisle. Next, it was time for more food so we headed to El Rey Del Taco for a few bites each. After that we went to Best BBQ at the City Farmers Market for take out dim sum that we ate on a picnic blanket on a patch of grass in the parking lot. I had plans to take my friends to a few other stops but we tapped out at Manila Mart after having some halo halo. And what better way to end the night? Wash down all that food with a pint of beer in Avondale Estates!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Fu Mao Sun of Mighty Hans deserves some time in the Shoutout spotlight if he hasn’t gotten some already. He’s doing amazing things with his pop up Mighty Hans. Everything he makes is delicious!!!

Website: https://www.leftielees.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leftielees/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@leftielees