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NYC's 'Baklava Guy' brings in $20K/month selling Turkish pastries
CNBC • • business
Key Points:
- Jacob Komarow, known as the "Baklava Guy," runs Good Baklava, a mobile baklava business in NYC that has gained viral fame and steady growth without a permanent storefront, selling at parks, events, and online.
- The business began as a side hustle in 2021 when Komarow, a former drug addict and high school dropout, sold baklava at concerts; it has since expanded with a key supplier in Turkey providing high-quality product.
- Good Baklava experienced a sales spike during the Knicks' 2024 championship run and a New York Times profile, leading to brand partnerships and a 20% overnight Instagram growth.
- Despite fluctuating monthly revenue, Komarow's business averaged over $20,000 per month recently, with ambitions for a permanent location and increased staffing, while navigating challenges like permit issues.
- Komarow employs a personable, improvisational sales approach and remains deeply passionate about baklava, viewing his business as his realization of the American Dream and expressing openness to scaling up.
