From street vendors to storefront: Casa T.K. brings sweet treats and a taste of home to The Bronx
Casa T.K., a woman-owned and family-run dessert shop at 1497 Westchester Ave., opened its storefront in December after years of building the business from the ground up.
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A Bronx family is serving up sweet treats from a storefront of their own after getting their start as street vendors in the same neighborhood.
Casa T.K., a woman-owned and family-run dessert shop at 1497 Westchester Ave., opened its storefront in December after years of building the business from the ground up.
Owner Michelle says the journey began before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the family started catering food and desserts from their home. They later took their creations to the streets before moving into a small micro-shop outside a deli.
But the family dreamed of creating a space where customers could do more than grab a dessert and go.
“I really wanted people sitting down and enjoying the desserts instead of just standing outside and eating them,” Michelle said.
That dream eventually became Casa T.K., a bright pink shop designed to make customers feel at home.
Michelle says many of the people who supported the family during its street-vending days have followed them along the way.
“They’ve seen us. We’ve been growing together from street vending to the storefront,” she said.
That sense of community is reflected throughout the shop. A painting hanging inside was created by a longtime customer who watched the business grow from its days on the street and was inspired by a photo of Michelle, her husband and their son.
For Michelle, even the name “Casa” represents what she hopes customers experience when they walk through the doors.
“I want people to feel that they’re at home when they come over here,” she said. “The comfort, the community, the love, everything.”
Casa T.K. is known for its fresas con crema, a traditional Mexican treat made with fresh strawberries and the shop’s homemade whipped, mousse-like crema. Customers can also choose their own toppings.
The menu also features flan, flavored tiramisu and signature drinks made with house-made ingredients, including horchata, strawberry puree, hibiscus and passion fruit.
For Michelle and her family, the storefront represents years of work — and a journey that began just blocks away.
