Moe Abdou, Founder of 33voices interviews Lowell Hawthorne, Founder & CEO of Golden Krust Carribean Bakery & Grill.
A Baker’s Son
A Baker’s Son
There’s something very inspiring about an immigrant who emigrates to this country and demonstrates to the rest of us how to truly live ‘the American dream’. It was1981, and Jamaican born Lowell Hawthorne was 21 years old when his parents shipped him off to join his older siblings in New York. Unlike most 21 year olds, Lowell arrived here with a big dream, but like most immigrants, he had little to no resources. Fortunately, as a child, he learned the value of hard work when he was selling guinea pigs and rabbits to earn spending money and make his papa proud. So, he quickly earned a job with the NYPD, and for the next 10 years, he worked in various capacities with the police department, never taking his eyes off the ultimate prize of owning his own business. Finally, in 1989, during a family gathering, Lowell and his siblings decided to open a small, and the only one of its kind, Caribbean style bakery to serve the west Indian community.
As expected, no one believed in their idea and each attempt to secure a portion of the $107,000 needed to open the doors failed. So they bet on themselves and mortgaged everything they had on what would ultimately become – The Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill. Today, there are 120 such franchises in a dozen states throughout the country. Their success is no accident, but when you listen to Lowell describe his journey, you’ll get a proven blueprint that can make the difference for you – Here’s Lowell…