Chocolate-Covered Purpose: The Story Behind Berries by Quicha
By: Morgan Lewis
Baltimore, MD - LaQuicha Brown didn’t set out to run a gourmet chocolate-covered strawberry shop. But what started as a creative outlet slowly became something much more–a calling, a business, and a way to give back.
“I’ve always been into a lot of things,” she said. “I had my first son at 19. Then two more children. I went back to school later and graduated from Morgan State University with a degree in sociology and a minor in criminal justice.”
Image of LaQuicha Brown
After graduation, she applied for a job with Health Care for the Homeless. It was a flexible position that seemed like the right fit. She waited months to hear back from the job.
While waiting, LaQuicha–who friends and family call “Quicha”-- turned her attention to something she had only done casually before: making chocolate-covered strawberries.
“I started doing them just to pass time,” she said.
What happened next felt like more than a coincidence. A friend who managed events at the Best Western in Baltimore invited her to bring her strawberries to an event. At that event, she met the hotel’s general manager, and his wife loved Quicha’s product. Around the same time, someone from her church who also knew the manager mentioned Quicha was selling from her home.
LaQuicha is holding her strawberries
The general manager offered her space at the hotel to sell her strawberries, and the Baltimore Comedy Factory–located inside the same building– became her first business location.
“It was slow at first,” she said. “I was only there on weekends, and the comedy club was open Thursday through Saturday. I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Then, the call she had been waiting for finally came–the job she’d applied for months earlier was hers if she wanted it.
“I went home and cried,” she said. “It was everything I thought I needed – good salary, flexible hours, stability. But I had to pray. And I felt God saying. ‘No. You’ve already started something. You need to see it through.’ So I turned the job down.”
That decision wasn’t easy. “I was watching money go out, but not a lot coming in. I had to trust that God was building something, even if I couldn’t see it yet.”
Today, Berries by Quicha has two locations and over 18 different flavors–everything from strawberry shortcake and cheesecake to tequila-infused and the viral Dubai-style chocolate berry. But for Quicha, it’s still about the experience.
Wall in Quicha’s store
“I’m a picky customer myself,” she laughed. “So when people come in, I always want to leave them happy. If I think their idea might not work, I’ll explain why. But if they still want it, I’ll make it happen. I just want them to feel good when they walk away.”
Her attention to detail has led to some memorable moments. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg visited her store during a business trip to Baltimore.
LaQuicha and Michael Bloomberg
“He shut down the whole street,” she said. “There was so much security. He brought a box of strawberries and took them to President Obama. They were going to play golf. I never met him, but I have a photo of them holding my box on the golf course. That was a big moment for me.”
Michael Bloomberg, alongside former President Obama, is holding a “Berries by Quicha” box.
Quicha’s creative spirit has always been a part of her. “Before school, I was a stay-at-home mom. I did window treatments, balloon designs—I never took any classes. Everything I know is self-taught. My friends always say, ‘That’s so Quicha.’”
Still, it hasn’t always been easy.
“I went through a divorce while trying to keep the business afloat. My kids were watching me go through it. But I just kept going,” she said. “My whole family works with me now—we’re all cousins. And I think my kids are okay. God kept us.”
That same care for people is what inspired her next move: a nonprofit called At Granny’s House, a shared-living program for young adults between the ages of 18 and 24.
LaQuicha and her daughter at her daughter’s photoshoot for Morgan State University.
“I’m a mom of seven,” (Three are her biological children, and four joined her family through her second marriage,) she said. “So I’ve seen what it looks like when kids move through life’s phases—from being at home to being on their own. That shift is hard, especially when the job market is uncertain and life feels expensive before it even starts. That’s why I started At Granny’s House. It’s a place where young people can live, pay affordable rent, get job help, build their credit, and learn how to manage finances.”
The program is named after her grandmother, who was a safe space in her life. “She was the bridge for me, the person I could always go to,” Quicha said. “I want this house to be that kind of place for others.”
Now, she’s working on bringing both her business and nonprofit directly to Morgan State University–her alma mater. “We’re looking for a space on campus to sell strawberries at a discount to students. All the profits would go into funding At Granny’s House, helping students who are ready to take the next step into independence.”
LaQuicha Brown didn’t take the easy path, but she made one that others can walk. From selling strawberries out of her home to creating space for young adults to grow, everything she’s built came from faith, patience, and using what she had.
“I didn’t plan for this,” she said. “But I trusted the gift God gave me. And now I just want to help the next person see what’s possible when you don’t give up.”
Call to Action:
LaQuicha is currently looking for a campus space to bring this idea to life. Students, faculty, and community members interested in supporting the mission can:
Visit berriesbyquicha.com
Email LaQuicha at BerriesbyQuicha@gmail.com
Or reach out via the phone number listed on the website
Those who want to see this partnership grow at Morgan State are also encouraged to contact President David Wilson to advocate for the At Granny’s House campus initiative.
About the Author
Morgan Lewis is a senior Multi-Platform Production major at Morgan State University. As a visual storyteller, she is passionate about amplifying voices through stories that center Black experiences, faith, and culture. Whether through writing, photography, or video, Morgan seeks to create meaningful work that inspires, informs, and connects.
