Owner’s Long-Lost Son Takes the Reins at Give Me Some Sugah Bakery

‘A Place That the Neighborhood Built’

When Vamarr Hunter first walked into Give Me Some Sugah bakery in South Shore 14 years ago, he immediately felt at home.

The walls showcased local art, R&B music was playing, and the tablecloths were made of leather. It was how he would decorate his own place, he said.

Hunter, who had recently moved into the neighborhood, would come in with his then-fiancee, Meagan, and enjoy his favorite treats, like key lime bars, chocolate chip cookies, and especially the pancakes.

The owner, Lenore Lindsey, would come up and tell them, in a motherly way, that they were eating too much. That didn’t stop them.

Little did Lindsey and Hunter know that there was something to their easy rapport — Hunter is the son she gave up for adoption at age 17. It wasn’t until a few years ago that they discovered their connection. Now, mother and son work together, with Hunter recently taking over the business his mom built.

A Unique Case

As mom was finding success, her son was wondering where he came from.

Hunter, 50, always felt like he had been adopted. It wasn’t until he was 35 that his adoptive mother, with whom he had a fraught relationship, confirmed what he’d suspected. He still had a feeling that the circumstances around his adoption were strange, so after seeing the phone number for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children come up on TV in early 2022, he decided to call the hotline.

The organization’s special programs coordinator put him in touch with Gabriella Vargas, a California-based genetic genealogist who was working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at the time. Hunter had already done his genetic profile through a genealogy website, but needed help connecting the dots. It wasn’t long until Vargas tracked down his biological mom.

Lindsey received Hunter’s contact information and gave him a call not long after. Hunter saw that Give Me Some Sugah came up on his caller ID.

He picked up the phone. “Miss Lenore? From Give Me Some Sugah? It’s Vamarr!”

Lindsey drew a blank.

“It’s Vamarr, you know, Meagan and Vamarr!” he said, referencing his former fiancee.

That’s when it clicked. Mother and son had been living in the same neighborhood all this time, just a mile away from each other.

‘A Pillar of This Community’

At the time Lindsey and Hunter found each other, she was in the midst of battling breast cancer. She thought about shutting down after having a stroke the morning before her last chemo treatment in June 2022, not long after they were reunited. Hunter wanted to help his mom keep the business going, so when he wasn’t working as a customer service rep at transportation and logistics company C.H. Robinson, he spent his off hours learning how to bake.

“As she kept trying to come back, after about a week or so, she was back in the hospital again,” Hunter said. “And I felt that she was trying to do too much, so I just wanted to try to get in and help where I could.”

He knew he wanted to be there for her, even though he’d never baked before.

“I don’t know if I baked a roll of Pillsbury dough,” Hunter said.

He left his full-time job in April to take over the bakery.

Lindsey is now cancer-free. Tears filled the corners of her eyes as she recalled connecting with Hunter.

“He really is such a good soul. He has just no animosity [about being given up for adoption]. I’m sure he’s adding years to my life because I just got this sense of peace. It’s like your life came full circle,” said Lindsey, whose cellphone wallpaper is a photo of Hunter and her daughter, Rachel.

A New Era at Give Me Some Sugah

Lindsey has mostly stepped away from the day-to-day at Give Me Some Sugah. Hunter plans to keep his mom’s business in the neighborhood and to build on her success. (One thing on the to-do list? Bring back those pancakes.) While she had been dealing with her health issues, the bakery was open on limited days. Hunter said business is picking up now that he’s opened the bakery five days a week.

Pound Cake and a Sense of Purpose

He feels blessed to have found Lindsey. And he’s expanding his baking skill set. His specialty is pound cake.

“It could have been somebody I wish I’d have never found, you know, but she has been a pillar of this community,” Hunter said. “I’ve been given an opportunity to take over something that is well established already, and I want to maintain as much of it as I can.”

Conclusion

The story of Vamarr Hunter and Lenore Lindsey is a testament to the power of family, community, and second chances. As Hunter takes the reins at Give Me Some Sugah, he is determined to build on his mom’s legacy and make the bakery a staple in the neighborhood for years to come.

FAQs

Q: What inspired Vamarr Hunter to take over the bakery?

A: Hunter was inspired by his mom’s determination to keep the bakery going despite her health issues. He wanted to be there for her and help her keep the business going.

Q: What is Vamarr Hunter’s favorite treat to bake?

A: Hunter’s specialty is pound cake.

Q: How has the community responded to Vamarr Hunter taking over the bakery?

A: The community has been very supportive of Hunter taking over the bakery. Many customers have come to welcome him and express their appreciation for his mom’s dedication to the business.