StraitConnect
Celebrating the businesses creating community—from sweet success to global relief efforts.
A Note from the Founder
April gives us a moment to recognize the people and businesses who keep showing up for the community.
Across the Northeast Bronx, small businesses are creating spaces where people gather, celebrate milestones, and share everyday moments. These places often grow through word of mouth and neighborhood support, becoming part of the rhythm of the community.
This month, we’re highlighting a few of those stories — from a Bronx baker reaching a national audience to local partnerships between businesses sparking new opportunities for conversation and creativity.
“If you know a business or neighbor whose story deserves to be shared, we’d love to hear from you.”
— Deardire Gregg, Founder, StraitLeap
Women’s Entrepreneur Spotlight — Cupcake Me
Sweet Success — The Growth of Cupcake Me
Cupcake Me’s creations bring celebration to the Bronx and beyond.
Britney Moss has built Cupcake Me into a bakery that many customers now turn to when it’s time to celebrate. What began as an online business has grown into a nationwide staple, providing the centerpiece for birthdays, graduations, baby showers, and neighborhood milestones.
Community-Centered & Nationally Recognized
This March, Moss reached a new audience on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle, sharing Bronx creativity with viewers across the country.
“Cupcake Me has become part of the moments that bring people together, building a business woven into the life of the community.”
Accessibility Meets Artistry
Custom Creations: Specialized cupcakes, cookies, cake jars, and celebration cakes.
Local Impact: Present at Bronx community gatherings.
On-Demand Treats: Available via DoorDash for last-minute celebrations.
Connect with Cupcake Me:
Order Direct via DoorDash
Community Collaboration
Drips Restaurant & Lounge × Nefer Bookcafé
Local partnerships often begin with a simple idea: bringing people together. In March, Drips Restaurant & Lounge partnered with Nefer Bookcafé to host a community gathering that combined food, conversation, and culture — a discussion, reading, and book signing of Erotic Defiance with Reverend Dr. Courtney Bryant.
Events like these show how neighborhood businesses can support one another while creating welcoming spaces for residents. Nefer Bookcafé has become a place where people stop in to browse books, attend workshops, or stay awhile talking about the stories shaping the community. When spaces like this connect with restaurants and other local businesses, they create opportunities for new conversations and new relationships.
These collaborations help strengthen the networks that keep neighborhood culture moving forward — and remind us that bookstores, restaurants, and community spaces are most powerful when they work together.
“Neighborhood culture grows strongest when local businesses work together.”
Community Support Beyond the Bronx
Neighborhood businesses often extend their reach beyond their storefronts. Drips Restaurant stepped forward during Hurricane Melissa in 2025, organizing relief efforts in Jamaica and bringing local supporters together to help families in need.
This reflects a broader pattern: when businesses and individuals step up, their impact can extend well beyond the immediate neighborhood.
Closing Reflection
In every corner of the Bronx, there are stories of growth, connection, and dedication that remind us what community is all about.
Which local business should we spotlight next? Hit reply and let us know!