From a tiny, ethnically Albanian village in the Balkan peninsula to the heart of Los Angeles, this is our story and fight for the American dream.

As a mother and daughter duo, we seek to keep grandmother Marja’s legacy alive while simultaneously sharing our uniquely rich cultural heritage with Los Angeles.

Food is one of the ultimate unifiers, and it’s all about community. We hope to engage with a community focused on sharing and enjoying authentic cuisines from around the world, including from our little corner in the Balkans.

As a second-generation Albanian-American, I grew up watching the women in my family struggle to have a voice, hold an education, or have their own financial security. I want to change our lineage’s story from struggle to power, starting with my generation, and in the process hopefully encourage other women to do the same.

I have found it increasingly challenging to stay connected to both my roots as an ethnic Albanian and my upbringing and environment as an American in LA. To blend these two worlds I turned to the kitchen with my mother, making my grandmother’s recipes I remember as a kid and finding out more about traditional dishes from my heritage, while trying to place my own modern spin on it. My mom and I would bake baklava for parties, and after hearing from friends and acquaintances that we should sell it because they had never tasted baklava like that before, I began wondering if they were right.

In 2020 when I lost my close cousin, my grandmother, and my best friend, the weight of grief hit me like a ton of bricks. I found solace in baking and time stops when I’m in the kitchen. Together with my mom, we conceptualized the business back then, but the timing to start it didn’t seem right for either of us.

Something in my heart won’t allow me to let this go, so finally this year we are moving past doubt and opening Marja’s Bakery as a small artisanal made-to-order online shop.

Teaming up with my mother, we decided to limit our menu to the classics for now: nana’s baklava and bread, as well as Balkan favorites like Cevapi and Burek.

We partnered with an amazing graphic designer to create and trademark an authentically Albanian logo representative of my grandmother and the traditional dress she wore, the xhublet. It is important to us that every part of our business echoes back to our roots.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to share a piece of my heritage with the city I love, and to build this business together with my mother is everything to me. We would not have gotten this far without our loved ones who have supported this concept, who have taken the time to give me their feedback on designs, slogans, menu options, and marketing tips. Thank you to the amazing professionals and partners we’ve crossed paths with along this road, you’ve made the difficult days easier to get through.

What happens from here is uncertain, but taking this leap of faith is my obligation.

Your feedback matters immensely, and we’d be honored to gain your business.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Gjurashaj

Co-founder

Marja’s Bakery