By Tess Offers Delicious Lunch plus Homemade Goodies!
Your name(s): Tess Higgins
Company name: By Tess
Your position: Owner
Website: By-Tess.com
Phone number: 862-217-4746
Business address: 447 Springfield Ave (second floor) Summit, NJ 07901
What do you like best about the local area?
I love the lively and artistic atmosphere of Summit! It’s a great up-and-coming city and the residents have been so excited and supportive in welcoming us to the scene!
Describe what your company does. How long has it been in business?
I (Tess) have been creating as much as I can for as long as I remember. Food, pottery, jewelry, art… you name it. A few years ago, I decided I had the skills necessary to begin sharing my creations. I wanted to create a space where I could showcase my work and, also, support other local artisans like myself.
I originally opened By Tess up the street from its current location in 2021 when I was 16 years old. (I wrapped up high school in a couple years and passed the GED.) I expanded into my new space in the Spring of 2022, and now own and operate By Tess out of the Strand Mall by Wonder Dog Studio as an 18-year-old.
By Tess has an array of delicious American lunch-type fare and a wide selection of handmade baked goods and desserts. I also take custom orders: my custom cakes and frosted cookies have been a huge hit! The cookies are individually wrapped and make fun party favors! By Tess also features handmade products including candles, shirts, bags, soaps and chocolate: some are mine and others are made by other local artists!
What special menu items do you have on hand for the Spring season?
By Tess always offers a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches but our awesome chef loves to create weekly soup and lunch specials! (Everyone here gets in on the “creativity” act!)
And we have seasonal mini cupcake offerings to go along with the tried-and-true favorites! Our customers often grab mini cupcake 6 packs or 12 packs with their lunch: they make great host/hostess gifts and easy at-home treats! I think any mom or dad that brings some home will be super popular with the fam!
Tell us about the customer experience at your specialty shop.
Many of our customers grab-and-go with their goodies but there’s a really comfy, sunny and bright sitting area to hang out in with a bunch of seating options. I love to chill and watch the people go by. (There’s also a big mosaic I made back there out of broken coffee cups)
What would you consider your company’s strongest key to success?
We are passionate about serving consistently good food and are happy to do it! We would love to greet and feed everyone reading this article!
How can others learn from your commitment and inspiration?
Honestly, I work really hard. There’s always something to do and challenges always come up! But I’m having so much fun with what I’ve created: I love working alongside my employees and definitely couldn’t do it without them!
Anything we missed?
We sell gift cards and cupcake tokens! The tokens are cute: they look like wood coins… a customer can buy some, give them to their friends, co-workers, employees, and spread the love! Nothing says “I appreciate you” like free dessert!