>> WELCOME BACK TO GMA, LIFE FROM TIMES SQUARE. FROM TIMES SQUARE. >> WELCOME BACK TO GMA. >> WELCOME BACK TO GMA. IT'S DAY THREE OF OUR SERIES. IT'S DAY THREE OF OUR SERIES. LARA, IT'S YOUR TURN. LARA, IT'S YOUR TURN. >> UP IN YOUR BUSINESS. >> UP IN YOUR BUSINESS. >> WE ARE POPPING UP AT SMALL >> WE ARE POPPING UP AT SMALL BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS THE BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THIS MORNING LORI COUNTRY AND THIS MORNING LORI BERGAMOTTO JOINS US FROM BERGAMOTTO JOINS US FROM CHICAGO. CHICAGO. HEY, LORI. HEY, LORI. BECAUSE I LOVE THE WAY YOU SAY BECAUSE I LOVE THE WAY YOU SAY IT AND I AM HERE IN THE WINDY IT AND I AM HERE IN THE WINDY CITY RIGHT OUTSIDE OF SWEET VEGA IT AND I AM HERE IN THE WINDY CITY RIGHT OUTSIDE OF SWEET VEGN CITY RIGHT OUTSIDE OF SWEET VEGN BAKES AND I'M GOING TO KEEP MY BAKES AND I'M GOING TO KEEP MY QUESTION IS DO THAT BECAUSE JUST QUESTION IS DO THAT BECAUSE JUST INSIDE IS THE INCREDIBLE HONOR, INSIDE IS THE INCREDIBLE HONOR, CHERYL NELSON WHO TOOK A BIG CHERYL NELSON WHO TOOK A BIG RISK TO FOLLOW HER PASSION. RISK TO FOLLOW HER PASSION. SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S ABOUT TO SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO GET HAPPEN THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO GET UP IN HER BUSINESS. UP IN HER BUSINESS. FOLLOW ME. FOLLOW ME. LET'S GO. LET'S GO. OKAY, HI, CHERYL! OKAY, HI, CHERYL! >> HI! >> HI! >> SURPRISE! >> SURPRISE! I'M LORI BERGAMOTTO FROM I'M LORI BERGAMOTTO FROM "GOOD MORNING AMERICA." "GOOD MORNING AMERICA." YOU ARE LIFE RIGHT NOW ON GMA. YOU ARE LIFE RIGHT NOW ON GMA. WE WANT TO TELL THE WHOLE WE WANT TO TELL THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND SHARE YOUR STORY. COUNTRY AND SHARE YOUR STORY. TAKE A LOOK, EVERYBODY, ABOUT TAKE A LOOK, EVERYBODY, ABOUT THIS AMAZING LADY. THIS AMAZING LADY. >> OH, MY GOD. >> OH, MY GOD. >> WELCOME TO SWEET BEGIN BAKES >> WELCOME TO SWEET BEGIN BAKES IN AUTUMN CHICAGO WHERE IN AUTUMN CHICAGO WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN GET ANYTHING SWEET CUSTOMERS CAN GET ANYTHING SWEET OR SAVORY CUPCAKES TO FRY OR SAVORY CUPCAKES TO FRY CHICKEN WITH MAC AND CHEESE. CHICKEN WITH MAC AND CHEESE. THE WOMAN BEHIND IT ALL? THE WOMAN BEHIND IT ALL? >> SWEET VEGAN BAKES IS MY BABY. >> SWEET VEGAN BAKES IS MY BABY. WE OPEN UP DURING THE PANDEMIC WE OPEN UP DURING THE PANDEMIC TO MY HUSBAND AND I CAME IN AT TO MY HUSBAND AND I CAME IN AT JUST 20 OPENS AND ON. JUST 20 OPENS AND ON. WE SAID LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WE SAID LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS. REPORTER CHERYL NELSON BECAME REPORTER CHERYL NELSON BECAME WEAK AND OUT OF NECESSITY. WEAK AND OUT OF NECESSITY. RECENT HEALTH PROBLEMS SHE SAID RECENT HEALTH PROBLEMS SHE SAID ONLY IMPROVED AFTER CHANGING ONLY IMPROVED AFTER CHANGING YOUR DIET. YOUR DIET. BECAUSE I WAS REALLY SICK. BECAUSE I WAS REALLY SICK. MY DOCTORS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT MY DOCTORS COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME SO I WENT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME SO I WENT ON THE DAY AFTER SEEING MY ON THE DAY AFTER SEEING MY DOCTOR FOR THE LAST TIME AND I DOCTOR FOR THE LAST TIME AND I SAID I'M GOING TO GO VEGAN AND I SAID I'M GOING TO GO VEGAN AND I WENT VEGAN COLD TURKEY, NO PUN WENT VEGAN COLD TURKEY, NO PUN INTENDED, AND IN 21 DAYS, I INTENDED, AND IN 21 DAYS, I COULD BREATHE AGAIN. COULD BREATHE AGAIN. >> Reporter: FOR YEARS, CHERYL >> Reporter: FOR YEARS, CHERYL COULDN'T FIND THE BIG FRIENDLY COULDN'T FIND THE BIG FRIENDLY TREATS SHE LIKES OF THE STARTED TREATS SHE LIKES OF THE STARTED MAKING THEM ON HER OWN. MAKING THEM ON HER OWN. BECAUSE I MADE SOME OF THE WORST BECAUSE I MADE SOME OF THE WORST CAKES, CUPCAKES, AND COOKIES ON CAKES, CUPCAKES, AND COOKIES ON THE PLANET IN THE BEGINNING AND THE PLANET IN THE BEGINNING AND MY POOR HUSBAND HAD TO TASTE THE THE PLANET IN THE BEGINNING AND MY POOR HUSBAND HAD TO TASTE THM MY POOR HUSBAND HAD TO TASTE THM ALL. ALL. >> Reporter: CHERYL GREW UP >> Reporter: CHERYL GREW UP AROUND HERE ON THE WEST SIDE OF AROUND HERE ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO. CHICAGO. DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AFTER BECOMING A MOTHER AT 15. AFTER BECOMING A MOTHER AT 15. >> I'D ENCOURAGE MYSELF TO MAKE >> I'D ENCOURAGE MYSELF TO MAKE MYSELF FEEL LIKE I CAN DO MORE, MYSELF FEEL LIKE I CAN DO MORE, WENT BACK TO SCHOOL, GOT MY GED, WENT BACK TO SCHOOL, GOT MY GED, AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE, A MASTER'S AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE, A MASTER'S DEGREE, STARTED A DOCTORAL DEGREE, STARTED A DOCTORAL PROGRAM AND BECAME A BUSINESS PROGRAM AND BECAME A BUSINESS PROFESSOR. PROFESSOR. >> Reporter: HER PASSION IS >> Reporter: HER PASSION IS BAKING. BAKING. SHE HOPES HER STORY SERVES AS AN SHE HOPES HER STORY SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION TO ANYONE OUT THERE INSPIRATION TO ANYONE OUT THERE WITH A DREAM. WITH A DREAM. EVEN WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT EVEN WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, K EVEN WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, E EVEN WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, EVEN WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, U EVEN WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, H EVEN WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, N EVEN WHEN IT GETS DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, . BECAUSE IT DOES GET DIFFICULT, . JUST KEEP PUSHING. JUST KEEP PUSHING. >> OKAY, SOCIABLE, I CAN TELL >> OKAY, SOCIABLE, I CAN TELL YOU'RE EXCITED. YOU'RE EXCITED. I'M GOING TO LET YOU TAKE A I'M GOING TO LET YOU TAKE A SECOND. SECOND. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. WE KNOW THAT YOU OPEN SWEET WE KNOW THAT YOU OPEN SWEET VEGAN BAKES DURING THE PANDEMIC. VEGAN BAKES DURING THE PANDEMIC. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE SUCH A WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE SUCH A BIG RISK DURING THAT TIME? BIG RISK DURING THAT TIME? >> DURING THAT TIME -- FORGIVE >> DURING THAT TIME -- FORGIVE ME, JUST SO NERVOUS. ME, JUST SO NERVOUS. I WAS SO MUCH HAPPENING AND SO I WAS SO MUCH HAPPENING AND SO MANY PEOPLE DYING, SO MUCH, AND MANY PEOPLE DYING, SO MUCH, AND I SAID TO MYSELF WE ARE NOT I SAID TO MYSELF WE ARE NOT PROMISED TOMORROW AND I WANT TO PROMISED TOMORROW AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE A SHOT AT IT. JUST TAKE A SHOT AT IT. I NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO I NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND I JUST DID IT AND I HAPPEN AND I JUST DID IT AND I KNOW IT'S THE TIME WHERE PEOPLE KNOW IT'S THE TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS CRAZY, DON'T ARE SAYING THIS IS CRAZY, DON'T DO THAT, BUT I DID IT ANYWAY AND DO THAT, BUT I DID IT ANYWAY AND IT WAS THE BEST THING I EVER DID IT WAS THE BEST THING I EVER DID FOR MYSELF. FOR MYSELF. BECAUSE THAT'S WONDERFUL! BECAUSE THAT'S WONDERFUL! THAT IS WONDERFUL. THAT IS WONDERFUL. WE HEARD YOU HAVE SOME PLANS TO WE HEARD YOU HAVE SOME PLANS TO EXPAND. EXPAND. WHAT'S IN STORE FOR SWEET VEGAN WHAT'S IN STORE FOR SWEET VEGAN BAKES? BAKES? >> I'M SO EXCITED BECAUSE THE >> I'M SO EXCITED BECAUSE THE PREMIER IS GOING TO BE OUR PREMIER IS GOING TO BE OUR SECOND ANNIVERSARY -- SECOND ANNIVERSARY -- SEPTEMBER -- AND WE HAVE A NEW SEPTEMBER -- AND WE HAVE A NEW LOCATION. LOCATION. OUR CURRENT LOCATION AT 700 OUR CURRENT LOCATION AT 700 SQUARE FEET. SQUARE FEET. OUR NEW LOCATION IS 5,000 SQUARE OUR NEW LOCATION IS 5,000 SQUARE FEET OF BAKING SPACE THAT WE CAN FEET OF BAKING SPACE THAT WE CAN FULFILL ALL THE ORDERS THAT WE FULFILL ALL THE ORDERS THAT WE HAVE ALL OVER THE CITY BECAUSE HAVE ALL OVER THE CITY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO DO WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO DO IT HERE SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED IT HERE SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. ABOUT THAT. >> PHONES ARE RINGING OFF THE >> PHONES ARE RINGING OFF THE HOOK ON CUE. HOOK ON CUE. WE ARE TO GMA WERE SO INSPIRED WE ARE TO GMA WERE SO INSPIRED BY THE FACT THAT YOU TOOK THIS BY THE FACT THAT YOU TOOK THIS DREAM AND YOU TURN IT INTO SUCH DREAM AND YOU TURN IT INTO SUCH AN INCREDIBLE REALITY AND WE ARE AN INCREDIBLE REALITY AND WE ARE NOT ALONE. NOT ALONE. OUR FRIENDS AT 84 LUMBER TO OUR FRIENDS AT 84 LUMBER TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, GIVING SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITIES, ARE GIFTING BACK TO COMMUNITIES, ARE GIFTING YOU, CHERYL, WITH $10,000 TO YOU, CHERYL, WITH $10,000 TO BOOST YOUR BUSINESS! BOOST YOUR BUSINESS! YOU DESERVE THE SPIRIT WE GOT UP YOU DESERVE THE SPIRIT WE GOT UP IN YOUR BUSINESS TODAY, DIDN'T IN YOUR BUSINESS TODAY, DIDN'T WE, CHERYL? WE, CHERYL? HOW ARE YOU FEELING? HOW ARE YOU FEELING? >> I DON'T KNOW! >> I DON'T KNOW! >> PRETTY GOOD THOUGH, YOU CAN >> PRETTY GOOD THOUGH, YOU CAN MAKE YOU DESERVE THIS AND MORE. MAKE YOU DESERVE THIS AND MORE. SWEET VEGAN BAKES, I THINK WE SWEET VEGAN BAKES, I THINK WE GOT UP IN HER BUSINESS. GOT UP IN HER BUSINESS. BUT DO YOU THINK? BUT DO YOU THINK? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. STICKERS ARE EXCITED TO HEAR STICKERS ARE EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE NEW SHOP. ABOUT THE NEW SHOP. THIS IS EXCITING. THIS IS EXCITING. >> SHE TOOK THAT LEAP OF