NYC's 'Baklava Guy' Started Selling Turkish Pastries as 'a Joke,' Now it Brings in $20K/month: 'It's My Whole Life'

The 30-year-old entrepreneur behind Good Baklava went viral for handing out free pastries after New York Knicks games and selling to strangers in local parks.

NYC's 'Baklava Guy' Started Selling Turkish Pastries as 'a Joke,' Now it Brings in $20K/month: 'It's My Whole Life'

TL;DR

  • Jacob Komarow, operating as the 'Baklava Guy,' has built a successful business called Good Baklava selling Turkish pastries.
  • The business, which started as a joke at a concert, now averages over $20,000 in monthly sales.
  • Viral social media exposure, particularly during the New York Knicks' playoff run, significantly boosted Komarow's business and led to collaborations.
  • Good Baklava operates without a permanent storefront, selling through street sales, temporary stands, online orders, and wholesale.
  • Komarow imports baklava from a supplier in Gaziantep, Turkey, emphasizing its unique pistachio and lemony syrup characteristics.
  • The entrepreneur, who is sober and views his success as the American Dream, is seeking more stable income streams and potentially a brick-and-mortar location.