LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Darquan Rogers can often be found around the Hub City with a treat in hand \u2014 a fitting image for the man behind Cupcake Empire.<\/p>\n
Rogers spent three years in foster care as a teenager, has faced legal troubles, and has experienced personal loss. He said those experiences shaped the resilience that now drives his business.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been through it. I\u2019ve been resilient, I would say. It takes resilience to do this, a certain amount of perseverance and not giving up. There\u2019s been plenty of chances I\u2019ve had to give up and I\u2019ve continued, persevered, trusted the process,\u201d Rogers said.<\/p>\n
Rogers launched Cupcake Empire after rediscovering a childhood passion for baking in adulthood. <\/p>\n
Though he is not originally from Lubbock, he said the city has become central to his work \u2014 and he attributes many milestones to the people who live here.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes me proud to know that I\u2019m trusted with someone\u2019s first cake, or someone\u2019s event in general,\u201d Rogers said.<\/p>\n
Rogers said he spends between 60 and 100 hours a week baking cookies, pies, puddings, and more. It\u2019s a demanding schedule, but he says it\u2019s worth it to follow his dream.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m doing something I love, I\u2019m not really working,\u201d Rogers said.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s expecting that workload to grow after a recent TikTok about him gained more than 10,000 views, a development Rogers said caught him off guard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt overwhelmed me at first. I probably watched it 10 times just in disbelief,\u201d Rogers said.<\/p>\n
Rogers said the attention is not what motivates him. Instead, he said his focus remains on serving his community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI live to serve and I\u2019ll keep it to where I keep the desserts coming and I do it from my heart,\u201d Rogers said.<\/p>\n
Rogers said he also hopes his story resonates with others who have faced similar circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like this can show anyone else, too, that was in my situation that they could also do it \u2014 it doesn\u2019t necessarily have to be cooking, it could be whatever their heart leads them to do,\u201d Rogers said.<\/p>\n