With all the hustle and bustle of New York City, famously dubbed “the city that never sleeps,” finding an intimate, home-away-from-home space can be difficult, especially for newcomers.
Sisters Alex and Charli Starkman hope to create just that with a quaint dessert shop inspired by their grandmother and mother, set to open in SoHo this fall.
“I think a lot of people in New York City are looking for a connection. Most people who live here aren’t from here and don’t have close friends and family nearby, necessarily, so creating a space where people can go and feel like they’re at home is what we really are trying to do,” Alex Starkman told Whatnow New York City.
Mum’s will debut at 241 Mulberry St.
The interior will channel British country chic, featuring white and sky blue hues, rustic kitchen utensils, cookbooks, and old family recipes and photos displayed on the walls.
The star of the menu is the crumble, a classic British dessert.
“My grandfather was British, so my grandmother learned to make this because it was one of his favorite desserts. It’s something all our friends and family have always really loved. We thought if everyone we know loves it, hopefully the public will too,” Alex said.
What is a crumble? Guests can choose their fruit filling, followed by either the classic crumble, which Alex describes as tasting like a shortbread oatmeal cookie, or a gluten-free version with a granola-like taste. They can then top it with custard, ice cream or Greek yogurt.
“It’s basically fruit, sugar, butter and flour. There’s nothing artificial, no fillers or preservatives. We will make it all in house at the store every day,” she said.
Alex hopes to introduce a new kind of dessert experience, one unlike the city’s typical dessert spots.
“It’s really difficult to find warm desserts that are offered in a quick-service takeout format, like a restaurant-style dessert. I’m excited to meet all the people that will be in the store and just bring them a little comfort and joy, sharing our family dessert with them,” Alex said.
The duo looks forward to also joining the community.
“I think it’s just full of energy all the time. There’s constant foot traffic, there’s so many great restaurants but also amazing coffee shops and stores. It’s really popular for locals and tourists. I knew I wanted to be somewhere that people would organically be,” she said.
An official opening date has not yet been announced, but the sisters are targeting a mid-fall debut. Follow Mum’s along on Instagram for the latest updates. Stay tuned!
