Walking into the StruggleBeard Bakery at 5221 S. Harper Ct., a group of customers is greeted by the sugary aroma of oatmeal cookies, strawberry lemonade cupcakes and cranberry muffins.
Quinton McNair stands behind the counter, his cheery and warm presence lighting up the shop. Before taking the customers’ orders, Mr. McNair asks a simple yet considerate inquiry: “How can I help you smile today?”
After a conflict-filled childhood where he experienced homelessness, Mr. McNair chose to serve in the Army. When he came back from deployment, he opened StruggleBeard Bakery: a name that reflects his struggles in life along with his determination to grow a beard.
One struggle Mr. McNair faced was his transition into civilian life during the coronavirus pandemic, after serving in the Army for 24 years as a helicopter mechanic, drill sergeant and sexual assault response coordinator.
When he returned from deployment, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and worked as a human resources manager for a nonprofit organization. After an acquaintance posted a cookie recipe online, he made his first attempt at baking.
“The cookie was trash, it was horrible,” Mr. McNair said. “I had never baked before and went about it the whole wrong way.”
His success was not without trials, but he kept persevering. He found that baking helped him handle his mental health.
“I realized, like while I was baking, I had purpose. Had something to do. Those intrusive thoughts were not intruding anymore,” Mr. McNair said.
After mastering the skill of baking, he opened his bakery in 2023. Not only did this new profession help him cope with his PTSD, but baking also made him happier: through baked goods, he could produce smiles for customers.
“It also gave me a double dopamine rush, because it felt good to be creating something,” Mr. McNair said. “And then when people enjoyed it, it felt good again to share that and for other people to enjoy it.”
These cookies aren’t just any run-of-the-mill cookies made by big corporations; they are baked with compassion, claims a review on the StruggleBeard website.
“You can tell these cookies are made with care, by someone who knows their product is an extension of them,” an online reviewer named Tiffany wrote.
Mr. McNair values the sense of purpose he gains from baking and found it to parallel his experience in the military.
“The military gave me purpose. Once I decided to make a military career, I decided to make an impactful career, especially when it came to helping people,” Mr. McNair said.
Mr. McNair considers helping people and making an impact on his community a fundamental priority in his life, and through his bakery, he can give back.
“It allows me to share that journey of mental health healing with young men that look like me, that might be going through things that I went through that caused me to join the Army,” Mr. McNair said.
He gives back by sharing his talents and his advice: public speaking and donating baked goods. He emphasizes partnering with and supporting other Black-owned businesses and organizations, even for his coffee and tea.
The friendly environment of Hyde Park drew him to it, specifically the Black-owned businesses.
“All the festivals and all the dope things and all the art that’s here in Hyde Park, I felt like this would be more of a home for me,” Mr. McNair said.
Mr. McNair also aids the community by giving a discount to students and veterans every Tuesday and encouraging everyone to come to Wednesday karaoke nights.
“In every small way I can give back, I do it,” Mr. McNair said.
His positive contributions not only impact the community as a whole but the days of each individual customer who visits his bakery.
The customers temporarily get to leave their struggles and worries behind, focused on the sugary delicacy in front of them. They leave the bakery with a full stomach and a smile.
