How a Brooklyn Business Owner and Foodie Spends Her Sundays

A decade ago, Kai Avent-deLeon craved a space in her Brooklyn neighborhood that embodied fashion, art, music and interiors. But she could not find anything like that in Bedford-Stuyvesant. So she opened Sincerely, Tommy, a lifestyle concept store that is also part cafe, as “a labor of love.” It carried independent designers from all over the world — like Collina Strada, Rejina Pyo and Nanushka — before they became more well known.

“I’ve always used it as a canvas for whatever I’m passionate about at the time, and I think at this point, it’s just kind of like a staple of the community,” she said. “And I never expected it to kind of become what it is.”

Now, Ms. Avent-deLeon, 36, has become a bedrock of Bed-Stuy and a community of Black-owned businesses. After witnessing the shootings in the Black community early in the Covid-19 pandemic, she also launched Building Black Bed Stuy to help local businesses find “economic independence and sustainability.” During its first year, the organization raised $20,000 and has continued the effort.

Last year, Ms. Avent-deLeon and a few friends launched her second business, Che, a plant-forward cafe named after her 5-year-old son. Che features a menu of staple items with “playful colors” and rotating ingredients, like a vibrant porridge and a rice bowl. It had always been her dream to open a restaurant.

“Because I grew up vegan, I think my idea of cooking was a bit different,” she said. “You have to be more creative, given that you know you’re not eating meat and things that are just like kind of readily available. I really love being experimental.”

Ms. Avent-deLeon lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Bed-Stuy with her son, Che.

JOURNALING I definitely wake up slowly on Sunday, because it’s my favorite day of the week. I will wake up and do journaling, and then I will also do intentional reflection time. I’m working with a woman, and she has me doing different journal prompts. They’re always tailored and personal to things we’ve discussed in our sessions. It naturally feels very relaxing and calm. After I journal, if my son is with me, I’ll usually cook breakfast for him, because he’s a breakfast person, whereas I am not. I’ll usually drink a glass of water.

MORNING WORKOUT I work out every day, except for, usually, Saturdays and Fridays. I love strength training — so kettlebells, dumbbells. I use two people on YouTube consistently.

NEIGHBORHOOD JAUNT I’ll walk down to Che and hang out there for a little bit, whether it’s friends that I’ve invited or just by myself. It’s like a little cute, low-key activity. This time, I had a special soup that we had on the menu for the weekend, and then I had the rice bowl. It was a sweet potato and Nardello pepper soup with fig leaf oil. We went to my store Sincerely, Tommy; there was a pop-up happening.

FAMILY TIME We went to the market on Tompkins Avenue, where I saw my son, Che, and my friend Imelda was vending. She has an apothecary line, so she sells her product at the market outside. After that, we went to my grandmother’s house. She was watching the Olympics, so I just sat with her and watched.

CITY HAUNTS Sometimes we’ll drive into the city, like around Orchard Street, where my favorite shops are. Dimes Deli. I also really like Tumbao. I love Beverly’s NYC. Just kind of depends on the mood, but Colbo, definitely. I don’t drink coffee, but they have coffee, so it just feels more like a hangout. Then you have to go and shop.

SNACK STOP I always go to Orchard Grocer, because my son doesn’t eat meat, and I get all of his snacks for school. From there, sometimes I’ll stop into Erin McKenna’s Bakery if I want something sweet. From there, I’ll either mosey around or head back to Brooklyn.

GROCERY HAUL After that, I usually just come back to Brooklyn. Maybe grab a couple of light things at the grocery store and then cook for the evening, for myself or for Che. You know where I’ve been going? Happier Grocery. I may get a couple of things from Chicky’s. I get my salmon from them, or from Shipwreck. I might get avocado, milk.

HOME COOKING I actually made a version of the soup that I had earlier at Che, except I put a specific type of tomato. They’re a very light yellow, peach color. But I added that to it, and then I added sweet onions. And instead of fig leaf oil, I did fresh fig, and I added manchego cheese with fried sage on top.

WIND-DOWN I watched the movie called “Passion of Mind.” I like old ’80s, early ’90s romantic thrillers. So this one was just Demi Moore, but I really liked the cinematography and the staging for her home. I think the décor was just really nice. I journal again before going to bed. The woman that I’m working with is challenging me to go to sleep at 10 p.m. starting this week.