NYC's Baklava Guy Turns Street Snacking into a $20K/Month Dream
Roy Komarow, known as the “Baklava Guy,” runs Good Baklava—a mobile Turkish bakery with no fixed storefront—selling pastries from a van, in parks and at pop-ups, plus online. Viral videos and a New York Times profile helped push monthly sales to around $20,000 over the last nine months (peaking at nearly $70,000 in Dec 2025 at Union Square’s holiday market). Revenue comes from street sales, wholesale to cafes, and e-commerce; he employs about 11 part-timers and covers supplier, packaging, and Shopify costs. He often operates without city permits but has not been fined or arrested. He aims for more stable income and potential brick-and-mortar expansion while keeping the guerrilla, spontaneous model intact.