Cortney Hamilton, affectionately known throughout the city as Mz. Cheesecake, is redefining what it means to build a business rooted in purpose, community, and Detroit pride. Born and raised in Detroit and a proud graduate of the University of Michigan, Hamilton is the founder and CEO of For the Love of Cheesecake, a gourmet specialty bakery that has grown from a kitchen passion project into one of the city’s most recognizable dessert brands.
Her journey began at home, where self-taught cheesecake recipes quickly became a way to bring people together. Friends and family were the first to experience her rich flavors and handcrafted approach, and soon word spread. What started as a labor of love evolved into a business in 2014, guided by a simple but powerful belief: food made with intention creates meaningful connection.
Over the past decade, Mz. Cheesecake has strategically scaled her brand into a dominant presence in Detroit’s pop-up and event scene. Her desserts have appeared at some of the city’s largest festivals and markets, earning loyal customers along the way. A major milestone came when For the Love of Cheesecake became an official dessert concession stand at Ford Field during Detroit Lions games—placing her brand on one of the city’s biggest stages and solidifying its reputation as a household name.
While her cheesecakes are known for premium ingredients and bold flavors, Mz. Cheesecake’s mission extends far beyond dessert. For the Love of Cheesecake is a woman-led business that prioritizes community impact. She offers flexible employment opportunities to local women and college students—many of whom are mothers—while intentionally sourcing ingredients locally and creating pathways for other entrepreneurs to thrive. Her philosophy is simple: shared success strengthens the entire community.
Her leadership has earned her prestigious recognition, including the Spirit of Detroit Award and the Pistons Shop 313 Award. She has also invested heavily in her own growth through elite entrepreneurship programs such as the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Program, Cornell University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Program, Prudential Small Business Consulting, Capital Connect, and TechTown Retail Bootcamp.
Looking ahead, Mz. Cheesecake envisions expanding into wholesale distribution and developing a café and commissary kitchen designed to support and collaborate with local bakers. At the heart of every milestone is a deeper purpose: building a legacy for her daughter, uplifting her city, and proving that a business built on love can thrive at scale.
Through consistency, vision, and an unwavering commitment to Detroit, Mz. Cheesecake continues to show that when passion meets purpose, the result is something truly sweet.
