Celebrating Asbury Park Women: TyChell Williams

Asbury Park has some amazing women. Did you know that out of the 220 businesses listed, over 60 of them are either owned, or co-owned, and operated by women? *That’s 30% of the businesses in Asbury Park.

There are so many great women in this community it would be hard to mention them all, seriously.

From the city councilwomen, to the women business owners, the non-profit sector, the public sector, the educators, the political activists, the clergy, and the volunteer-women movers and shakers, all of whom care about Asbury Park and want to make it a better place to live for themselves and their community.  

Although the young woman featured today is an up-and-coming rising star who has yet to reach her pinnacle, she is already making her mark.

TyChelle Williams, who I briefly mentioned in my piece about Chef Bilal and the Kula Café, has been living in Asbury Park her whole life.

She graduated from AP High School in 2016 and got a job at Kula in March of 2018. Previously she worked at Burger King and Shop-Rite in Neptune.

Her parents are local; her mother is from Asbury Park and her father is from Neptune. She is 5^th in line of 10 siblings; five girls and five boys.

Her grandfather knew Miss Meg, (Meg Flores, the manager) and that they hired young people. At the time, TyChelle was looking for work so he told her to go fill out an application. She got the job and started out washing dishes, stocking shelves, and cleaning.

When she was young she “was always looking to help mom in the kitchen, especially when it came to making desserts.”

TyChelle really enjoys baking. She didn’t know it at the time, but she found her calling when she got hired at Kula Café.

After being trained by Chef Bilal, and knowing how to bake, TyChelle began baking for the café when they needed baked goods.

Recently, she was promoted to assistant cook.

Some of TyChelle’s favorite things to make are cookie brownies, cheesecake brownies, ice cream sandwiches, and cinnamon rolls. But her most favorite is ice cream. She loves to make homemade ice cream.

Where did she learn how to make ice cream?

“At ‘A Little Class’ Pre-school’s summer camp on Monroe Avenue,” when she was very young. The school is still in existence and her daughter now goes there.

TyChelle not only remembered the process, she remembered all the ingredients. Of course, I had to ask…

Homemade ice cream:

Milk, heavy cream, Sugar & Salt, vanilla flavoring, ice cubes, and two plastic zip bags.

Step 1: In the 1^st bag you put the milk, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla flavoring.

Step 2: In the 2^nd bag you put ice cubes and salt.

Step 3: You put the 1^st bag inside the 2^nd bag and shake until it thickens and freezes.

Simple. Who knew?

Some of the ice cream flavors she likes to make are vanilla, bean, and strawberry (with the strawberry’s that come from Kula’s garden).

TyChelle is a natural in the hospitality industry. She is patient when dealing with the public and seems to genuinely like people. She is humble, and she is serious about her work. But the thing that stands out the most is her warm smile.

Her love of baking and cooking has become her livelihood. In September, she will be starting at the Culinary Institute in their 2-year program. Upon graduating she will be a Certified Chef.

“What do you want people to know about you and the Kula Café?”

“I want them to know that Kula Café is a really good place to work. They teach you hospitality skills, give one-on-one training, and you learn overall job skills, as well as how to be social.”

TyChelle Williams, Assistant Cook

Although still in her early 20’s, TyChelle is one of those amazing women. She wants to open a bakery in Asbury Park someday. So she can give back to the community and offer job opportunities. Just like she had with Kula.

Perhaps one day she will be in that 30% category of women business owners.

*The survey was done in 2017 by the Chamber of Commerce.