Former Cowboy wrestling with recipe for business success

It’s a strange recipe for success, but David Crawford is driven to turning his longtime dream as sweet as his cheesecakes into a thriving business.

Crawford opened Slice of Heaven Gourmet Cheesecakes last week in a Midwest City shopping center just north of Heritage Park Mall. Although he had been baking his thick, made-from-scratch cakes at his south Oklahoma City home, the new 1,200-square-foot base — a display case in front and a sparkling clean kitchen in back — was created so Crawford could professionally compete with other companies selling desserts.

"My target is restaurants, coffee shops and hotels,” said Crawford, who has invested about $60,000 in renovating the space and installing new equipment. Catering parties and special events also is on his business calendar.

Although Crawford, 33, said he always has enjoyed baking and cooking, the idea of producing and selling cheesecakes didn’t take hold until several years ago after friends and family raved about the first one he made for a Fourth of July party.

Crawford, though, didn’t really like that first cake and began tweaking his formula until he was satisfied with his base recipe. Then he began experimenting with flavors and creating unusual taste combinations.

"One day at work it just hit me, the idea for a coffee and cheesecake shop,” he said

Through connections with friends, Crawford began selling his cakes more than a year ago at a Lawton specialty coffee shop. Making business connections is taking time, while he juggles his full-time job in Norman and a part-time position as an assistant wrestling coach at Midwest City High School, he said.

"I’ve always wanted to do something on my own, and this idea finally stuck,” he said.

If business takes off, Crawford wants to open other locations and offer additional cake sizes.

"That’s part of the plan, to be open all day and sell cheesecake by the slice,” he said. "I’d like to make this a full-time thing.”