Pursuing a passion for pastry that she’s had since high school, Avery Grundmeyer is making preparations to open a brick-and-mortar location of her bakery Just Eat Me Sweets in Metairie at 2929 Metairie Road. The project is currently in a construction phase and an opening day announcement is coming soon.
Like many young women, Grundmeyer started baking as young girl and then as a hobby in high school. After graduation, she enrolled in culinary school in New York City and later returned to New Orleans. She began doing pop-ups during COVID; building her Just Eat Me brand in the process. The bakery’s Instagram page heavily features many different types of cookies topped with a range of whimsical ingredients, from Muddy Buddy Chex Mix to S’mores. The bakery also specializes in custom cakes.
But Just Eat Me Sweets – or JEMS – is about more than sweet treats. Grundmeyer puts a sassy, playful personality front and center in all of her marketing.
“I’ve always loved being able to know who’s making the products I buy: who they are, what they love to do and why they love to do it,” she told What Now New Orleans. “So, when I started branding and marketing my business, I decided I needed to be in it a lot. Because I want people to know me and be able to talk to me about my products and come straight to me if there’s any problems.”
Grundmeyer also takes pride in being one of the youngest — if not the youngest — bakery owners in the Greater New Orleans area. Although, she said her young age causes many people to doubt her as a pastry chef and as an entrpreneur.
“People doubt me every day,” she said with a laugh. “But I feel like those people push me harder to be successful. I never let criticism stop me and I don’t think anybody should.”
