Meet Keturah Fleming-Hall | Owner of La Fillette Bakery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keturah Fleming-Hall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keturah, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My dad is an entrepreneur and has owned his own business for most of my life. I think watching him instilled that same spirit in me. I have a bachelor in business and tried to go the traditional route. When I moved to Denver, 8 years ago, I wanted a change of pace and to have something of my own. I loved the idea of working hard for myself and that work paying off.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
La Fillette Bakery is a dream that I never thought could have the success we have had. It has been a little over 6 years in the hilltop neighborhood and I have loved every minute of it. Starting off, the first few years were very exhausting. I worked 100 hours a week. I worked, eat and slept at the shop the first few years. I still can’t believe how busy we have become compared to the first year or two. I love what I do. Every part of it. I still roll croissants and laminate dough. In the beginning,I tried to do too many options. It took the second year to really focus in on the croissants and prefect them. Croissants are a labor of love. It takes three days to make a croissant- dough to flaky goodness. I am most proud of them. I would eat mine over any other bakeshop in town and around the country. It’s exactly the way I like them. I think that is hard to step out and say. The food climate has changed so much over the last several years. TV and movies, romanticize what the day to day looks like. It’s hard work…you are on your feet all day, long hours, holidays missed with love ones and limited time off. You have to love what you do to stay in the restaurant business. Everyone is a critic. It took my a bit to own my style and not apologize for it. It’s what I love to make, the way I make it and the taste I like. Lucky for me there has been growing following of loyal regulars that believed the same. I’m excited to expand, open more shops and see where that takes us next!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Weekend in Denver: Some of my favorite place in Denver are:
Cart-Driver
Brasserie Brixton
Uchi
Uncle
Red Rocks
Candle Light Tavern (old wash park dive bar)
East Fax Tap (East Colfax dive bar)
Min’s Foot Spa and Reflexology
My weekend would be full of food and a nice drive for a view. Love hitting Breckinridge for the Mountain town vibe.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I couldn’t have made it through the ups and downs of being a small business owner without my family, friends, husband and my crew at the shop. I’ve had so much support from everyone back in Philly. They are the most loyal humans. We have a close knit family, cousins and friends that feel like family. Without that support, I couldn’t weather the ups and downs. I’ve had so many amazing crew members of past and present. They make my life so much easier and give me the opportunity to think and work towards next steps for the bakery’s future.

Website: www.lafillettedenver.com (website is currently being updated and will have new link)

Instagram: @lafillette_bakery

Facebook: @lafillettedenver

Image Credits
patrick meehan