We recently connected with Jacqueline Cummings and have shared our conversation below.

Jacqueline, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I have several income streams, and one of my newest ventures is The Chill Spot @ Notre Maison, a shaved ice lounge. It all began in 2006 when my father passed away. We were very close, and his loss left me deeply depressed. I lost so much weight, I felt like I was disappearing. I knew I had to pull myself together for my two daughters. Whenever I could, I visited my aunt in Florida, and she would always take me to a shaved ice shop. I loved the variety of flavors. I remember thinking, “One day, I’ll open my own shaved ice spot in Baltimore.” And that’s exactly what I did.

I spent time researching the flavors I wanted to offer, where to source them, and the necessary equipment. Then, an incredible opportunity arose: I was able to purchase a building right next door to one of my existing properties.

I used equity from one of my buildings on 25th Street to make the purchase and officially open The Chill Spot @ Notre Maison lounge. We’re open year-round and offer a wide selection, including 85 shaved ice flavors, 6 Italian ice flavors, 15 toppings, gourmet sodas, vegan chili, apothecary and medicinal teas, and more. The Chill Spot also serves as a platform for artists to exhibit their work. Bands, musicians, poets, business owners, and even motorcycle clubs find a home here. We host random giveaways and monthly “Chill & Chat” sessions, where we discuss just about anything. We also rent out the lounge for intimate events like Sip & Paint, Book Club Meet Ups, small business pop-ups, and more.

While The Chill Spot is new, it’s actually a spin-off from my previous business, Notre Maison Teahouse (2002-2016), where we hosted “Chat Night”, poetry nights, offered 40 herbal teas, and rented the space for small events. I genuinely enjoy creating spaces where people can express themselves and thrive.

Jacqueline, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I grew up in the middle of five children. I learned to play well by myself. I was very small, yet always felt “protected”. Our mom spent a lot of time with me as I was too young to hang out with my older siblings and too old (and a girl) to hang out with my younger brothers. Our mom would plant seeds by telling me things like “education is very important”, make sure you get good grades so you can go to college”, “when you buy your first house, buy a duplex so you can live in one side and rent the other side and use the rent you collect to cover the mortgage”.

I watched our mom work during the day, and have her own jewelry business during the nights and weekends. I would go with her to “Jewelry Parties”. We call them pop-ups now. She would take me to wholesalers and talk about business all the time. When I was in the 7th grade, I sold sticks of gum for five cents. When I was in the 11th grade, our mom took me to the candy wholesale store and purchased candy bars so I could sell them in school. She planted the seeds of entrepreneurship deep when I was young.

Now, I own 6 properties. I paid off a 30-year loan in 13 years, so our home is paid off. I own 5 commercial properties. One is paid off, 3 will be paid off in 5 years, and the other one will be refinanced in two years for a quicker payoff. I pay of to use equity if needed. In the 5 commercial properties, I’ve hosted 31 black-owned businesses at one time. Some tenants have been with me for 12 years. All five of my commercial properties are on the same block and on the same side of the street.

My businesses are all in the unit block of 25th Street in Baltimore. I lease commercial office space and storefronts. I own The Chill Spot, a shaved ice lounge. I founded Notre Maison Connects, a nonprofit “Helping Communities Thrive”. (I also have an Airbnb, but it’s not on 25th Street.)

Notre Maison Connects is a nonprofit organization I founded in May 2018, dedicated to Helping Communities Thrive. We have three core components: Greater Youth Initiative, Connects Cares, and Community Connections.
-Greater Youth Initiative empowers youth, ages 18-21. We provide two free 12-week sessions (Spring and Fall), offering strategies and training for youth to build confidence and become better-prepared, more employable adults with improved critical thinking, time management, communication, professional, and life skills. These opportunities include CPR/First-Aid Certification, driver’s education, cybersecurity certifications, financial literacy, resume writing, career research, investing, registering to vote, and more. It also includes free trips to remove youth from their communities to provide them with possible life-changing experiences. One of our annual trips is fishing offshore in Boston, Massachusetts for the weekend. We host the annual Sparkle of Hope Charity Ball in May to allow our youth to shine their brightest!
-Connects Cares travels abroad to revive childcare centers that have been damaged by natural disasters. We revived two centers in St. Thomas, VI, before COVID.
-Community Connections hosts community events. We’ve held a community blood drive and a school blood drive with the American Red Cross. We are currently collaborating with Baltimore City Public Schools to bring blood drives back to public schools. We also host one of the largest Black Wall Street events in Baltimore city, hosting an average of 80 businesses. This event is held annually in September. In May 2023, Notre Maison Connects was honored with revealing a Baltimore City’s Ceremonial Street Sign, naming our block “Black Wall Street on 25th”. We also host Christmas on 25th Street in December. We collaborate with Amazon, Home Depot, Cyberfinders, and other companies to give away thousands of toys and gifts to children in the community, in schools, child care centers. group homes, and anyone who asks. I am Mrs. Gifter. There is also a Mr. Gifter, Gifter Helpers, and Little Gifters to assist with this massive task.

Mission: Make community CONNECTIONS to empower youth, while supporting families and strengthening communities. Find us online at nmconnects.org and on social media platforms.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There have been many highs and lows. One of my biggest lows is when I hired a referred contractor, Simeon Peters, to install a sprinkler system for a young lady to expand her catering business in one of the buildings I recently purchased. He started the work, never finished, and ran off with both of our money. It set me wayyyyy back, sucking up my savings and blocking new income from several new businesses wanting to move in. Not only did I lose over $300,000 in the process, I also lost the people (new tenants) who heard of me and believed in me. To this day, that building still needs a little more work, and Simieon is nowhere to be found.
The highlight in this story is that one of my best friends of JD Claymont, came in and helped me finish most of the work, to start renting out the space. He also built out the space we use to hold classes for Notre Maison Connects.
Almost three years later, I was able to pick up the pieces and move on.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I trust my friends. If I call you a friend, you have already proven yourself trustworthy. My friend/big brother, who referred Simeon, was so upset that Simeon did what he did to me. However, at the end of the day, we cannot make people do better if they don’t have it in their heart. He could not “make” Simeon do the work, so I couldn’t be upset with big brother. Referral or not, I need to do my own research and not be so quick to move because someone I trust sent the referral. Simeon may have been good to big brother, but that doesn’t mean he would automatically be good to me or for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nmconnects.org
• Instagram: nmconnects, thechillspot_nm, jacqui_c_nmconnects, blackwallstreeton25th
• Facebook: Jacqui Cummings Page II, Notre Maison Connects
• Linkedin: Jacqui Cummings
• Youtube: Notre Maison Connects