Heart 2 Heart Bakery & Cafe

Description: Black-owned local bakery and cafe doling out coffee, tea, cakes, cookies, and other treats in a cozy space with live jazz on Sundays.

Comments: A hidden gem in the truest sense. Really good pound cakes, but what stands out are the owners, Marilyn and Sam. They've made something special with this place. The live jazz on Sundays, the way Marilyn remembers everyone's name, the fact that they're only open three days a week because this is clearly a passion project. People from Cornelius call them 'treasures within the community' and that's exactly right.

Yes, it's small. Yes, the hours are limited. But that's precisely what makes it a gem. I wouldn't ever come here to work on my laptop. Leave it behind, talk to people, maybe grab a corner and read a book, listen to some jazz, chat with some boomers, and brush it off when they start asking why you're still single and how they have a really nice grandchild you should meet 😅.