N.C. man launches cheesecake business after incarceration

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A Triad man reclaimed his life after incarceration, starting his own business and helping teach others to do the same.

Daryl Lavon Myers Jr. opened up DJ’s Cheesecakes after receiving a scholarship.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan Prison Policy Initiative says North Carolina releases about 17,000 people from incarceration per year. 

Years ago, Myers was one of those people. He says he got mixed up in the wrong crowd in high school, resulting in his incarceration. 

“After I got out of prison, I found a job working with autistic adults. And I enjoyed doing it. Seeing people actually grow a bond with you from interacting with them. Oh, I really enjoyed that,” Myers said. 

Data from N.C. State University shows that nationally, 37% of people released from incarceration cannot find employment in their first year of being in the general public. 

Although he was able to find a job and enjoyed the work, Myers always had dreams of opening up a food truck. He signed up for a Providence culinary class through a Goodwill program at the Triad Community Kitchen in Winston-Salem. 

Culinary students taking photos of Daryl’s cheesecakes. (Spectrum News 1/ Sydney McCoy)

“They make you feel welcome here, even though you might have a past or made some bad choices in the past. They let you see that you still have a bright future regardless of decisions that you made back then,” Myers said. 

Myers received a scholarship from Goodwill after submitting a letter telling them about his past experience and his future goals. 

“I was able to come here without having to pay anything. And that right there was like it was a blessing in itself. So that definitely let me know, OK, you’re on the right course,” Myers said.

His sight-shifted to cheesecakes, opening up DJ’s Cheesecakes after he fell in love with the process of making the delectable treat in the culinary course. 

“The whole process to me, is kind of like art. From the making of it to the decorating process. And then the response of people is kind of like one of the best things about it too, to see people respond and be like, ‘Wow, that’s amazing,’” Myers said.

He posted his first cheesecake on Facebook, which gathered hundreds of likes and interest from others. It prompted Myers and his wife to sell and deliver 150-200 slices of cheesecake a day. 

“So I’ll get an order from someone, and it might be 40 to 50 slices going to one location,” Myers said. 

His cheesecakes are now on restaurant menus, at stores and available through direct orders.

“Having somebody eat it or try it in front of me, it gives me confirmation that I’m doing something right. It’s the little things that make the experience so much more fulfilling in a sense,” Myers said. 

Some of his flavors include banana pudding, Pop-Tarts, Fruity Pebble, Lucky Charms, red velvet cake and more. 

“I’ve had people reach out and ask for a bacon cheesecake. And I’m like, ‘bacon cheesecake?’” Myers said. 

Daryl and his son, Trey. (Spectrum News 1/ Sydney McCoy)

Through the years, he’s gained the nickname “Cheesecake,” so it is only fitting for his son, taste taster and inspiration, Trey, to be nicknamed “Lil Cheesecake.”

“He doesn’t tell any stories whatsoever, especially when it comes to food. He’s real fast to say, ‘oh, this is nasty’, or ‘I don’t like it’, or just being 100% honest with what I what I put in front of him. So when it comes to him trying my cheesecakes, he’s really the first person that I always ask, ‘is it good or not?’” Myers said. 

Myers goes back to the Triad Community Kitchen to teach other chefs how to make his cheesecakes. He says without their help, he would never be where he is today. 

“I like to see everybody attentive and writing notes and everything like that right there. It’s a fun part to see people actually trying to soak in knowledge of something that I can share with them,” Myers said. 

He encourages others who are in similar situations to look for classes to help start businesses of their own. 

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work, to come here and learn. And then from there, you know, strive to reach other goals,” Myers said. 

He one day hopes to have his cheesecakes in boxstores and open a cheesecake food truck.