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Aricka Westbrooks, 34: Owner of Jive Turkey, Brooklyn, NY From a business that began in her Brooklyn, NY backyard Aricka Westbrooks has grown Jive Turkey into a national phenomenon. She started four years ago, frying turkeys during the Thanksgiving season. She tested and refined the recipe for neighbors and friends. As the business grew her degrees from Howard University and Iowa State University did come in handy, but not in the ways you might expect. Her concept for Jive Turkey offers customers the delicious moist and juicy meat of a whole fried turkey without the equipment, mess and stress that came with frying a turkey at home. Not to mention the dangers and hazards. Reports that people lost their homes or have been badly injured when trying this technique at home pushed me to find a way to produce birds in a commercial setting she says. Taking chances: Savings, family and neighborhood resources helped to raise funds to open the store. This is really a family endeavor with nearly everyone I can name in my family contributing in some way to make the store a success. Without a business background Westbrooks opened a storefront in Brooklyn. “I completed a gut renovation on a storefront in Brooklyn to open a commercial kitchen and hired a staff with a professional culinary background to help me run things in the kitchen, Says Westbrooks. Things took off and the unique signature dish began to gain notoriety. After an article in The New York Times, segments were taped on The Food Network, Fox Morning News, ABC Eyewitness News in New York and Gourmet Magazine. Arika worked in public relations and marketing before opening the business but despite that my efforts really didn't help generate the coverage. It did help me to maximize it, says Westbrooks. Branching out: The business now ships turkeys nationwide. Our shipping business has resulted in orders from almost every state in the continental U.S. Each order is accompanied with reheating and carving instructions to help customers achieve that same experience as pulling a bird out of the fryer. Jive Turkey offers a menu of 15 whole turkeys everything from Honey Pecan, Orange Zinfandel, Peach Bourbon, Lemon Pepper and Cajun. The store sells whole turkey year-round and also offers individual entrees, sandwiches, salads and side dishes for those who don't want to invest in a 10 to 12 lbs. bird. With a menu rooted in traditional American cuisine Jive Turkey also serves catfish, crab cakes and slow roasted BBQ ribs. With plans to open a second store, and seek investments to open a manufacturing facility that will produce and ship turkeys nationwide and eventually offer franchises Westbrooks is busy and Jive Turkey is growing.