Are you ready for Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s Season 3? If you haven’t tuned in to the reality show “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” on the OWN network, you’re missing out. For those of you who do, you know what I mean. It’s a show and a family we can all relate to. This reality show is centered around the family matriarch, Miss Robbie Montgomery who owns Sweetie Pie’s at the Mangrove, Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust and the Original Sweetie Pie’s all in St. Louis.

Family, food and a little drama make up this hit reality show. On the show, Miss Robbie, is completely honest, business savvy and quick to put her family in place, if and when they step out of line.

Miss Robbie is just as high-spirited and spunky as she appears on TV. I had the pleasure of chatting with her about family, business and following our dreams.

From our very first greeting I knew this would be an enjoyable conversation. Miss Robbie’s energy came through even in her “Hi Tiya”. Here’s how the rest of our conversation progressed.

BMWK: Hi Miss Robbie how are you?

Miss Robbie: I’m good and you?

BMWK: Wonderful. Thank you so much for making time for us.

Miss Robbie: Thank you for having me.

BMWK: I think you’re awesome and I was excited to have the opportunity to talk to you.

Miss Robbie: Thank you Tiya, that’s a blessing.

BMWK:  How does it feel to have the first hit show on the OWN Network?

Miss Robbie: Ahh My chest is big, I’ll tell you that and it ain’t my boobs either (laughs). It is so good to even hear that. When you participate in something you really want it to be a success. I don’t care if it’s a lemonade stand, you want it to work. And for it to be the first it was really a blessing and we are thankful to Oprah to even give us the opportunity..

BMWK: Awesome. Well I love the show, I love your family. I love your feistiness. That’s what gets me motivated, I’m like she is no nonsense, she does not play. I’m wondering how has being so honest and so real and no-nonsense helped you in business?

Miss Robbie: It has helped me because it’s easier to be yourself. You don’t have to act, you just have to be yourself. I’ve always been a person that realizes the truth will set you free and I just let the chips fall where they may and I pray that I come out ok.

BMWK: So far you have been, so it’s working for you. What are the benefits of working with family?

Miss Robbie: The benefit is that your family is supportive of you. I mean I couldn’t do this by myself, I got my son and my sisters and even though we got a lot of drama, my family is there for me. They’re my backbone, I know if I fail it’s alright. They’re going to be there for me. If somebody don’t come to work my family is going to come in. So having that family is really, really a big part of it. Because I feel there’s no failure in my family because they got my back. They got my back.

BMWK: Are there any challenges?

Miss Robbie: Yeah, the challenge is you can’t fire ’em. My son especially, I’d love to fire him but if I fire him I’ll still have to help support him until he gets another job. So it’s easier to keep him there.

(Laughs)

BMWK: And how is the baby?

Miss Robbie: The baby is a blessing. He’s doing well, he’s walking around. He loves doors, he likes to open doors. And we have to watch him cause he’s real fast and he’ll take off running. He’s like out of the cage and just goes.

BMWK: And he is too cute too.

Miss Robbie: He is, he looks like his Grandmother.

BMWK: Of course he does, and you’re fabulous, you know that.

Miss Robbie: Ahh thank you.

BMWK: Our audience is primarily African-American, can you tell us why it’s important to support black owned businesses?

Miss Robbie: Well because, we’re your people and we need the support. Other races support each other. So as a black person we need to stick together. I mean if there’s a problem, if people come into my restaurant and give me constructive criticism I listen. Because I want to be just as successful as the next restaurant. So, it’s also an honor if they come to my restaurant because like I say, I tell my employees people don’t have to come to this restaurant. They pass 50 of them, so when they get here, love em and treat em right. As a black person I’m more inspired when my black people come in.

BMWK: And I have to tell you that chicken looks so good. I’m in Chicago but that chicken makes me want to drive up to St. Louis when I see those shots on TV.

Miss Robbie: And Tiya, That chicken is good.

BMWK: It looks like it. I’m going to have to make a trip. And just a couple more. A lot of our writers are black women and we’re trying to start our own businesses, what advice would you give to black women starting a business?

Miss Robbie: I say If you have a dream or an inspiration you want to pursue, go for it! Because If it doesn’t work that means it’s not for you, go keep moving. Something is going to happen.  I was a singer for 50 years. I never thought I would do anything else. I thought all my fame and fortune would come from singing, but it didn’t. Always be willing to help the next person because you never know. My mom said, she had 9 kids, she said it’s enough of you all to support each other, if one pulls and the others push, you’re going to get to the top. Everybody needs somebody on their side. Just go for your dream, you can do it. It might take a long time and you might have to get through another route, but go for it.

BMWK: “Go for it” I love that. And why do you want us to tune in (On Saturday to the new season of Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s)?

Miss Robbie: I want you to tune in because you’ll see we’re not super stars. We go to work everyday, we are a family, we support each other, we fight with each other. And I’m sure everybody has got somebody like that in their family and it’s ok. It is ok.

BMWK: That’s right. And how did you come up with the name Sweetie Pie’s?

Miss Robbie: Well actually I was trying to think of something you could remember easy. I just kept writing down things brown sugar or hot potato, sweetie pie’s. And everybody kept going back to sweetie pie. I remembered people call each other sweetie pie. So it’s something you can relate to.  Being a sweetie pie.

BMWK: And you are a sweetie pie, you’re a tough sweetie pie though.

Miss Robbie: Well, you know if I don’t do them, they’re going to do me.

BMWK: Well thank you so much Miss Robbie. Anything else you want us to know?

Miss Robbie: I just want everyone to tune in and keep supporting Sweetie Pie’s.

BMWK: Thank you so much.

Miss Robbie: Thank you Tiya and God Bless you.

BMWK: God Bless you too.

Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s began it’s new season last Saturday and airs every Saturday 10/9 central. Miss Robbie and her family are back and better than ever. I plan on tuning in this season and seeing all that’s new with Sweetie Pie’s.

BMWK family, what do you love most about Miss Robbie and Sweetie Pie’s? Who is your favorite family member?