Life is Service: Barbara Nigro x Little Barb’s Bakery

“I had a friend who always told me, ‘Don’t forget to live.’ I had fallen into a flow, chasing a life that wasn’t really mine. I went to college, played soccer, helped my dad at his pizza place (which was amazing), got a degree in kinesiology, and eventually moved to Durham for a job as a certified nursing assistant. The job was fine, but that’s all it was.

A few years in, I lost both my grandma and my best friend in a matter of days. I didn’t know how to handle the grief. I quit my job and started picking up different gigs – trying to figure out what was next. While working a babysitting job, I made a cake, and next thing you know a 6 and 10-year-old were telling me they’d pay for that cake – just like that, Little Barb’s was born. Little Barb’s Bakery is named after my grandma Barb. And funnily enough, the ‘Little’ is a nod to my dad’s pizzeria, Big Tony’s. It’s a playful contrast, but also represents how we are connected through food & hospitality.

Despite pulling 18 & 19-hour days at the start of all this, I was so happy. I still am. The baking is amazing, but hard work. What keeps me motivated is my customers. Even now, with a whole team behind me, I work Saturday nights just so I can interact with more customers. I love them all so much. I’ve been lucky enough to get Christmas cards, wedding invites, and even some genuine friends. The community here has rallied around this little shop. We make amazing baked goods, but I believe that it’s the warmth and the feeling of being a ‘friendly neighborhood bakery’ that really makes the difference. You come in for some treats, but you leave with a smile.

That same friend who encouraged me not to, ‘forget to live,’ never got to see this part of my life. We had a lot of great years together but losing him so suddenly was hard. Even now, it still hurts. I like to think he would be proud with how my life is turning out.

It took a lot for me to get here. For me to start living. So, my message to everyone has nothing to do with the bakery, but rather a reminder from Neesh, ‘Don’t forget to live.’”

— Barbara Nigro
Owner: @little_barbs_bakery - Little Barb’s Bakery

Photo series: Life is Service
Pt 10.
Photographed + Interviewed by: Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof @shotbyjbot

Location:
DURHAM FOOD HALL
530 FOSTER STREET
SUITE 1
DURHAM, NC 27701