New ‘dessert café’ featuring homemade ice creams, donuts, pies, opening this summer

Jeana Howard, a Hilltop native, is taking inspiration from her African-American roots, culture, and family’s recipes and opening her own dessert café this summer.

This new café, Sweetful, is opening a 1,300 square-foot-space at Gravity, featuring desserts like banana pudding ice cream, donuts, milkshakes, pies, coffee, and much more.

Howard said that everyone in her family has a signature dessert, “so there was no need to discuss what anyone was bringing to a party.” Grandma would bring the banana pudding, Grandpa with the coconut cake, Mom would bake a peach cobbler, and her aunt would bring the pineapple upside down cake. And lucky for us, all of those home-made treats will play a different role at Sweetful. Some of those ingredients will be incorporated into the ice cream flavors, while others will be served as a whole using the family recipe.  

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“I want to bring some of my African-American roots and culture to ice cream,” Howard said. “I love the idea of people experiencing different cultures through food. And what better way to make that introduction than through something people already love?”

Sweetful will be located on the ground floor of the Creative Office building in Gravity, adjacent to the courtyard, which is the perfect place to enjoy coffee and a slice of pie or some ice cream. But the space also offers plenty of indoor seating options. 

“I want to make it an experience,” Howard said. “I want to create an escape.”

Gravity Founder Brett Kaufman said he looks forward to bringing another new, local concept to the neighborhood. “Sweetful is an inspired brand by an inspired entrepreneur. It’s the type of concept and dreamer we aspire to attract,” Kaufman said. “We’re excited to welcome Jeana and the café to the Gravity community.”

Located at 429 West Broad Street, Gravity is the world’s largest conscious community project that includes apartments, offices, restaurants, retailers and more, stretching across 15 acres in Franklinton.

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