DALLAS – From inspiration to his reason why, a North Texas cheesecake shop owner tells the story of opening Val’s Cheesecakes.

Valery Jean-Bart told CBS News Texas the inspiration for Val’s Cheesecakes came after caring for his mother through a years-long bout with terminal cancer; cheesecake was Marie Jose Labossiere’s favorite dessert. 

Jean-Bart said he and his mother formed an even deeper connection while they baked through more than 200 sweet and savory creations each week, while he helped care for her. 

“We baked a cheesecake every Sunday. Every single cheesecake that’s on the menu, was a specific Sunday with her…every single item on the menu is perfected by the memories that I have with her,” he said. 

After his mother passed away in 2012, Jean-Bart pondered what to do next. 

A former civil engineer, he channeled his grief and a desire to honor his mother’s legacy into a new career, and an eventual partnership with Oddfellows restaurant in the Bishop Arts district helped grow the enterprise. 

Eventually, Jean-Bart began selling the desserts to other restaurants in the area. 

It was a move Jean-Bart said “spiraled out of control beautifully,” and he eventually opened one location on Maple Avenue in Dallas followed by others. As of 2024, two brick-and-mortar shops exist on South Akard Street and Greenville Avenue in Dallas, in addition to a thriving e-commerce platform. 

But, after 12 years of running the successful venture, Jean-Bart said he’s ready for a change. 

“[I need to] take better care of myself, spend time with family and friends,” he said. “I’ve never had time to just be Val…I went directly from caregiver to business owner [and] that’s a major transition,” he added. 

Now, Jean-Bart is writing a new chapter in the story: his own.

“People have been asking me what I’m going to do? I’m going to have a life. There’s relief [and] there’s also grief because I’ve been holding on to my mom,” he continued as he gestured around the shop located on Greenville Avenue in Dallas. 

The memories of his mother can be clearly seen, down to the details: the shop is accented by a bold blue hue, representing his mother’s favorite color. 

A hibiscus mural, symbolizing Haiti’s national flower and their heritage, lines the walls. 

“The chocolate on the wall….that’s her skin color,” he added.  

Jean-Bart will operate his current business model through the end of the year. In the meantime, he’s also working to secure a licensing that would allow him to hand Val’s Cheesecakes over to a new owner. 

Along with a new focus on offering classes and consulting to clients, he is also developing Val’s Blue Label, a smaller-scale, niche brand of dessert offerings, in addition to cheesecake. In a twist, Jean-Bart revealed his favorite dessert is actually sweet potato pie.

“I do want to pivot [and] I do want to offer a different side of the story…make some time for me [and] take better care of myself and spend time with me family,” he said. “I’ve been holding on to her a lot, I just need to let her go.” 

Val’s Cheesecakes will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in celebration of National Cheesecake Day on July 30, at both locations: 2820 Greenville Avenue and 1112 South Akard Street, in Dallas. 

The Dallas Mavericks have mostly finalized their roster after agreeing to a one-year deal with Spencer Dinwiddie last week to use their 15th spot. That isn’t stopping the trade machine from bringing up suggestions though.

Bleacher Report has suggested a trade to bring back fan-favorite Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Maxi Kleber and a 2025 first-round pick (top ten protected). The Nets likely think they could get more out of Finney-Smith seeing that they got five first-round picks and a pick swap for Mikal Bridges, but they could do right by Finney-Smith and send him back to Dallas.

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Finney-Smith was with the Mavericks from 2016 until the trade for Kyrie Irving at the 2023 trade deadline. As an undrafted free agent, he made his mark by turning into a 3&D player. By the time he left the Mavs, he was shooting over 39% from three-point range. Since the trade to the Nets though, he’s shot just 33.7% from deep. Life without Luka Doncic can be difficult.

The idea of trading him for Maxi Kleber is enticing though. Kleber’s $11 million contract is bloated given his production and he’s been hurt often in the playoffs. He offers good defensive versatility but Finney-Smith could fill the same role.

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