Jacob Komarow builds a successful roaming baklava business in New York City after starting the venture as a joke.
Jacob Komarow, a high school dropout and former drug addict, has established a roaming baklava business called Good Baklava. The business operates without a permanent storefront, selling pastries from a van, temporary stands, and street locations across New York City.
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Komarow sells a Turkish variety of baklava featuring 40 layers of flaky dough, crushed pistachios, and a lemony syrup. Over the past nine months, the business has averaged over $20,000 in monthly sales through street sales, wholesale orders, and an e-commerce website. The business gained significant recognition after Komarow sold free slices to New York Knicks fans during their championship run and received a profile in The New York Times. This success has led to corporate partnerships with brands such as US Mobile and Acme Smoked Fish. Komarow currently employs 11 part-time workers to assist with marketing, administration, and packaging. While he has not yet established a permanent brick-and-mortar location, he remains open to expanding the business to one or more stores in the future.