Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the August 9, 2022 flip book. 

Tucked inside a small community of food vendors in north Austin sits a quaint lot of food trailers housing a variety of eats from around the world. Among these vendors is a black trailer with gold lettering and a cheesecake slice image-printed on the front.

Starting out as a pop-up cheesecake shop operating out of the trunk of owner Eva Johnson’s car, 2CheeseCakeCuties eventually set up in their current lot with no more than a tent for shade before finally upgraded to a spacious trailer in July. Johnson and her six-year-old daughter Victoria — the two cuties in question — bring delicious desserts and quality service to Austin and surrounding areas and, according to their website, operate under the slogan, “For the love of happiness.”

Originally from Waco, Johnson said her family sought out a fresh location and set of customers for their new business and felt that Austin was the perfect place. Over the years, Johnson said she worked to perfect recipes handed down to her from her grandmother, Geneva, and has expanded her business to offer whole cheesecakes, catering services and even specialized menu items for local restaurants. 

Johnson said her daughter, Victoria, occupies many roles for the business, including brand ambassador and marketer, always making sure to tell customers to follow them on social media. 

“I talk to customers and (take) their orders,” the six-year-old said. “I like to (taste) the cheesecakes too.”

Victoria said her favorite part of running the cheesecake trailer with her mom is taking customers’ orders and putting whipped cream on top of the cheesecake slices

International relations and global studies junior Jackson Cox said he first discovered the cheesecake trailer when his band Slurp The World made plans to play an acoustic set at the lot where 2CheeseCakeCuties sets up shop. After finally trying the cheesecake, Cox said he fell in love with the store’s family-owned feel and signature graham cracker crust. 

“It’s a very wholesome environment,” Cox said. “As far as cheesecake goes, it was a nice portion (with) nice texture and flavor. Having a nice base on the cheesecake is nice.”

While perfecting a menu of cheesecake recipes is a large feat in itself, Johnson said she has larger goals in mind for her growing business.

“My long term goal is to build a sobriety house (and) build 2CheesecakeCuties up,” Johnson said. “That way, if (people in the house) do not have any job history, they can start at 2CheeseCakeCuties and we’ll help them with housing, education (and) finances.”

When taking a break from the kitchen, Johnson works at an addiction recovery center in Austin. Johnson said she hopes to eventually use her growing business to help people recovering from addiction.

 “We want (our employees) to feel like there is somebody rooting for (them)” Johnson said. “We want to be the ones that reach out (and) build a community.” 

 In addition to opening up a sobriety house and being a resource for those recovering from addiction, Johnson said she wants to open up her services to people from all kinds of circumstances who are in need of a fresh start.

“I want to focus on job establishment,” Johnson said. “This isn’t just for addicts, (but for all) people that are basically looking for a second chance in life — addicts, people that have been incarcerated, people that have lost their children to the system, (people that are) working hard to get their life back. Sometimes (people) just need that second chance.”