Val's Cheesecake Shop Shutting Down

Val's Cheesecakes in Dallas has operated out of a shack next to Grapevine Bar for six years. The Maple Avenue shop will be closing soon.

Val Jean-Bart tells the New York Times that the shack's Haitian chef and proprietor have "outgrown" him. Since it measures only 255 square feet, this is understandable. Employee retention has been an issue during the pandemic, he claims. The last day to get a slice of chocolate turtle, lemon poppy seed cheesecake, or pumpkin is Bart's November 21, 2021, Jean's birthday.

Complete cheesecakes in 7-inch and 9-inch sizes are also available, as are cheesecakes sold by the jar. A bizarre but delicious brisket cheesecake made by Jean-Bart made headlines once.

A "shack" on Maple Avenue was the company's first actual retail shop after Jean-initial Bart baked for two years at St. Paul United Methodist Church, where he had previously worked. There was also a short-lived stand for Val in a Dallas food court during 2021.

His mother had cancer for several years, so Jean-Bart spent time making cheesecakes with her. They came up with 270 recipes together, and several of them are still in use in the modern world.

History

His mother died in 2012, but the company's name is still based on her. 

He said his mum arrived from Haiti in June 2008 to spend a few weeks with me. It became apparent that her breathing was not quite right throughout her stay because she took longer to ascend a little set of stairs. When they took his mother to the hospital, she was told she had six months to live since she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 terminal breast cancer.

During those four years, they baked and tasted fresh goodies every Sunday. She would often finish her sweets before going on to the main course he had prepared for her. Then, during the week, she would come to stay with them, and they would plan out exactly what kind of cake they would prepare on Sunday. This scenario lasted for four years, culminating in her death in August 2012, with countless cheesecakes.

Val's cheesecakes were so famous that he decided to sell them out of his kitchen to restaurants. It was only after two years of moonlighting as a baker at St. Paul United Methodist Church's kitchen that he decided to create their first storefront at 3906 Maple Avenue.

"When I look at the shack, I imagine a Haitian man who is in a lot of agonies," he said. But, despite this, it led to a beautiful business.