The internet is still good for some things!
73-year-old Inez Hudson has been selling baked goods and pies since 2018, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reports. The retiree has loved baking since she was a young girl and thought it was a good way to earn some extra cash since her fixed income just isn’t enough.
“I do it all myself. I got into baking when I was very young, and it’s just something I like to do and I just started baking stuff, you know. As years went by, I kept baking and selling. I started doing this for the church,” Hudson told reporters.
She sells her baked goods outside of a local grocery store in her Lakeland, Florida, community. The owner of Super Choice Foods grocery, Jimeld Zad, doesn’t charge Hudson at all to use his space, saying he just felt it was a good thing to do.
“I give a chance to a lot of people. She deserves a chance, and people deserve a chance in this world,” said Zad.
Hudson sets up shop three days a week, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, selling her various cakes and pies. She offers an array of tasty treats, including pineapple pound cake with cream cheese icing, red velvet cake, and pecan and sweet potato pies. Some days are good, and other days are slow, with Hudson sometimes waking up around midnight to start baking. Still, she enjoys it, and it comes naturally to her.
@mannierants Store address: 610 W Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, #ourElders 💙 FL 33815 #Localsupport #fy #pielady #sweetelder #payitforward ♬ original sound – MannieRants
Recently, a local named Mannie came to visit Hudson outside of Super Choice Foods, buying her goods and posting a sweet video on TikTok about the small business, bringing Hudson to tears with their support while encouraging other locals to visit the elder. What Mannie didn’t know was that the video would go viral, racking up more than 400,000 views.
“I made it not to go viral for social media purposes. I just wanted local people to support each other because that’s the best rewarding experience,” explained Mannie.
But it did go viral, and the attention was swift. Now, so many have flocked to the grocery to see Hudson and the matriarch has sold out of her baked goods. She said the attention is both overwhelming and exciting.
“It makes me feel happy because I’ve been doing this for so long, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Hudson.
One of her long-time friends, Jamie Overstreet, said it’s a blessing from God, all of Hudson’s newfound success, affirming to the elder that everything that’s happening is right on time.
“I shared with her, God said, ‘stop worrying.’ Trust Him and he’s going to make things go to where you’re not going to have to stress. Gradually, more people are coming, and to hear it’s going viral, ah! That’s so exciting!,” said Overstreet.
Hudson would love to have her own company, but since she’s getting older, she thinks she’ll stick with this arrangement for now. Her plans are to keep baking and enjoy the sweet success!
You can catch Ms. Inez Wednesday – Friday, 11 am-5 pm, outside of Super Choice Foods, located at 610 W Memorial Blvd. Lakland, Florida. Go support!
Cover photo: Florida Grandmother Sells Out of Baked Goods After Business Goes Viral on TikTok/Photo credit: Fox13 Tampa Bay