Dallas, TX

Owner of Val’s Cheesecakes in Dallas says he’s ready for a change

Published

13 mins ago

July 30, 2024

Owner of Val’s Cheesecakes in Dallas says he’s ready for a change

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.

Ashley Moss

Ashley reports for The Desk, a new concept for CBS News Texas Mornings that gives viewers a look behind the scenes at the work that goes into bringing them the latest news.

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Dallas, TX

Proposed Trade Sends Fan Favorite Back to the Dallas Mavericks

Published

7 hours ago

July 30, 2024

Press Room

Proposed Trade Sends Fan Favorite Back to the Dallas Mavericks

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.

READ MORE: Mavericks’ Dante Exum Nears Olympic Return After Compound Dislocation of Finger

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.

READ MORE: Mavericks’ Dwight Powell Helps Canada To Olympic Opener Victory Against Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Dallas, TX

First Baptist Dallas may return to its fire-ravaged campus Sunday

Published

15 hours ago

July 29, 2024

Press Room

First Baptist Dallas may return to its fire-ravaged campus Sunday

DALLAS — First Baptist Dallas members are getting closer to returning to their downtown Dallas property after a four-alarm fire ravaged their historic sanctuary.

“The Worship Center looks wonderful. I was in there yesterday, and I texted our pastor,” Dr. Ben Lovvorn said. “I said the Worship Center looks, feels, and smells great.”

Lovvorn is the executive pastor of the Dallas megachurch. On Sunday, he told congregants who had to go to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center‘s main arena for the past two Sundays about their chances of returning to the property.

“Barring any surprise, I’m fairly confident that we will be together worshipping in our Worship center next Sunday morning,” he said.

Lovvorn said everything, including the building’s systems, elevators, escalators, media, internet, and life safety systems, must be checked out first.

In the meantime, he said crews are working around the clock to put beams and scaffolding up at the site of the scorched facade, where they are accustomed to having services.

“We are confident that we’re going to preserve much of that historic sanctuary—the exterior of those walls,” Lovvorn said.

The pastor also told the church he had no answers about how the fire started. He said the investigation could only proceed once First Baptist Dallas got the grounds safe enough for fire investigators to do their job.

“The priority has been to secure those walls and make sure the site is safe,” He said.

The damage to the church’s Criswell Center is significant enough that he said members would be unable to use it. The night of the fire, he said, the building took in dark smoke, lost power, and had a flooded basement.

The impact on the church’s artifacts remains unclear. A church spokesperson said the items are all digitized, but they have not worked through everything damaged or what didn’t make it.

The hull of the former sanctuary is where destruction occupies the place where members came to worship.

Mike Judd, the president of the Dallas County Pioneer Association, said the First Baptist Dallas fire reminded him of Notre Dame in April 2019.

“The wooden structure tends to burn straight up, very hot, and very quickly, but that type of fire tends to leave the exterior walls intact and reusable,” Judd said.

Judd’s Dallas County Pioneer Association is a non-profit organization that preserves and promotes the history of pioneer-era properties and facilities. The 1868 genesis of First Baptist Dallas is on their page.

“This is not just any church that burned. It’s the flagship church for decades and decades of the Southern Baptist Convention,” Judd said. “I think for prominence, it probably has no equals.”

As for what the rebuilt First Baptist Sanctuary could look like, Judd said he’s not a member. He does have a vision.

“Leaving a corner with smoke damage at the top of one of the windows, all those cornices around the edges that have the smoke damage, yeah,” Judd said. “Leaving one or two of those as a reminder of 2024 and the fire. That would be a wonderful call back to what happened this year.”

In a statement to CBS News Texas about the new sanctuary, Lovvorn said, “We are confident God is going to do great work in the days ahead. We are beginning to make plans to rebuild. Whatever we ultimately do will both honor the history and spiritual heritage of our church and express an excited optimism for the future.”

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Dallas, TX

Jake Ferguson shows up to Cowboys camp stronger and faster in 2024

Published

22 hours ago

July 29, 2024

Press Room

Jake Ferguson shows up to Cowboys camp stronger and faster in 2024

When Dalton Schultz left in free agency ahead of the 2023 season, the Dallas Cowboys turned to second-year tight end Jake Ferguson. The fourth-round pick from Wisconsin had just 19 receptions for 174 yards with two touchdowns as a rookie.

Despite the modest numbers, the coaching staff had faith in his potential — and they weren’t wrong.

Ferguson broke out with 71 receptions for 761 yards and five touchdowns. He added three more touchdowns in the postseason and was rewarded with a trip to the Pro Bowl.

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Now entering his third season, Ferguson is looking to improve and arrived at training camp in excellent shape. After playing at 240 pounds last year, Ferguson is up to 255 and hasn’t sacrificed any speed.

“A lot of it was my speed, but also at the end of the year I finished at 240 lbs. and while I was still strong… that wasn’t the weight I can move guys at. At the exit interview coach was like we can get you to 250, 255… and right now I’m sitting at 255. I ran faster in all my testing. Ran faster than I did at the Combine. And then tested all and I lift better. I feel really good right now. Feel like I’m running well. Obviously… pads aren’t on yet so real football’s yet to be played.” — Ferguson said while speaking with reporters.

Dallas will have more targets to go around this year with Michael Gallup and Tony Pollard no longer on the roster. Much has been made of the battle for the WR3 spot, and for good reason, but Ferguson will also help pick up some of that slack.

He could also help their ground game outperform expectations should he become a better blocker, which he believes will happen thanks to the added strength.