JaWanda Jackson
JaWanda Jackson holds her Original Sweet Potato Pie in her recently opened Inverness Corners shop. Photo by Madison Miller.
JaWanda’s Sweet Potato Pies
5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 111
874-9880
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Growing up in Alabama, JaWanda Jackson quickly developed a passion for cooking. She can remember helping her mother in the kitchen and even surprising her with meals throughout her childhood.
“By the age of nine, I was cooking for her and the children in our community,” Jackson said.
As her passion continued throughout her life, Jackson enjoyed sharing her food with family and friends. When Jackson married her husband, Eddie, she knew his fondness for sweet potato pies and knew that she had to find a good recipe.
“I said, ‘I’ve got to have a sweet potato pie recipe because this man loves sweet potato pie,’” she said.
Soon, the recipe caught on after Jackson shared it with her family and friends.
“We had requests from family and friends to make them,” Jackson said. “[I thought] I’m going to have to do something.”
Jackson and her family launched JaWanda’s Sweet Potato Pies in 2010 and began selling a variety of treats at local stores and markets such as Cowboys 280, Murphee’s Market & Garden and Pepper Place Market. After several years in business, Jackson has recently opened the brand’s first location, JaWanda’s Sweet Potato Pies, in the Inverness Village shopping center.
“I turned a hobby into a business,” Jackson said.
The store will include Jackson’s classic sweet potato pie as well as other desserts made with a southern flair, Jackson said.
Some of her flavors include Pecan Sweet Potato, Orange Crème Cheese Sweet Potato, Marble Chocolate Sweet Potato, Hooey Gooey Sweet Potato and the Mallow Sweet Potato.
“There are a number of ways that you could spice up a sweet potato pie,” she said.
A variety of peach cobblers, pound cakes and heavenly delights will also be featured on the menu. Fresh ingredients are used in every item.
“Finest ingredients is what makes our pies so different,” Jackson said.
Jackson’s top seller is the Original Sweet Potato Pie, which she credits as her favorite along with the Hooey Gooey.
The shop features several ready-made pies available for pick up at any time, but Jackson encourages customers to stay and feel welcome to enjoy the desserts in the shop’s cafe area.
“You don’t have to just pick up and go,” Jackson said. “You can sit and have a cup of coffee.”
Jackson believes that her faith has allowed her to continue to grow her business.
“We keep God our center,” she said. “Actually, our theme for our pies is ‘A Taste of Heaven.’”
JaWanda’s Sweet Potato Pies is located at 5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 111. Call 874-9880 or visit jawandasweetpotatopie.com.
