Shavonn Talks of Dreams
By ALISON BEEBE, TopCity Flavorista
Photos by JOHN BURNS
Shavonn Smith, owner of Nanny’s Soulfood, was born in Topeka and currently resides here with her husband and six children. Nanny’s Soulfood closed temporarily in June because of location issues. But Shavonn isn’t giving up her dream business.
“I’m closed for now, but not closed for good,” she said.“
God has a plan for me.
SHAVONN TALKS OF DREAMS
Alison: Owning a small business can be brutal, what’s the passion behind your story?
Shavonn: My dream was to be a social worker because I had been through so much trauma in my own life. Even though that was my dream, cooking was my passion and it just felt right. I had a family member with cancer and they needed help with medical bills. I enjoy cooking, so I started selling plates to raise money. Cooking also helped with my depression and anxiety and kept me grounded. Me being happy is me cooking. I started out of my home, then moved to a tent. I sold food for a while at “Faces By Mayfield ” in NOTO. Then in 2018, I opened Nanny’s Soulfood.
Alison: Why call it Nanny’s Soulfood?
Shavonn: My nephew always called me ‘Nanny,’ so that’s where the name came from. I’m the ‘Big Momma’ of my family.
Alison: Did you have someone that was an early influence on your cooking style?
Shavonn: A lot of my cooking comes from my dad and his mom. Back in the day, my paternal grandmother owned Emma’s Café in downtown Topeka. I used to go there to help out. They cooked whatever my grandfather caught, so there was a lot of fish and turtle soup. When I opened Nanny’s Soulfood, fish and my mac-n-cheese put me on the map.
Alison: What challenges have you faced?
Shavonn: My biggest challenge has been to find amazing people to work with me who have my best interest at heart.
Alison: What do you find the most rewarding?
Shavonn: Getting up early to cook and feed people, seeing their happy faces.
Alison: What are you most proud of in terms of your business?
Shavonn: I kept my faith.
Alison: What makes Nanny’s Soulfood special?
Shavonn: I’m different. My cooking is unique because I cook from scratch. You won’t see me dumping a bunch of canned goods in a pot and calling it homemade.
Alison: Where do you see your business in the future?
Shavonn: I want to own a building. I don’t want to have multiple locations. I just want to own it so I can pass it to my kids, so they’re financially stable.
Alison: What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their ownbusiness?
Shavonn: You can’t do it by yourself. Find an amazing team. Do your research and make sure your heart is in it. Everything I’ve done, I’ve learned the hard way. It’s okay to accept help.
A SERENDIPITOUS TURN OF EVENTS
In what can only be called serendipity, Jenny Torrence and Shavonn have joined forces. Jenny’s Pop-Up On The Block will be the new home of Nanny’s Soulfood, and Jenny couldn’t be more pleased.
“I always believe the universe presents itself in ways I should just take,” Jenny said. “Doing what’s most important for NOTO is a huge priority. Although the pop-up has been an amazing experience for me, and Topeka has really rallied around it, the stars aligned, and Nanny’s Soulfood will be our new full-time tenant of 822 North Kansas Ave.”
Shavonn is thrilled to be back in NOTO and looks forward to once again making her famous fish with a side of mac-n-cheese. The universe has spoken.
