Our Story
Located in Harlem’s historical district, Hamilton Heights, named after the first secretary of the United States of America, Alexander Hamilton, Avrilililly’s was born. An authentic specialty bakery and small batch artisanal gelateria offering a unique and unforgettable customer experience while enjoying your favorite sweets and hot and cold beverages. Our beautifully decorated and hand crafted flowers cakes and small batch gelatos are made daily using the finest ingredients available.
Our Vision:
To inspire and uplift the community we serve and the world around us.
Our Mission:
To inspire and nurture the human spirit one person at a time. Customer happiness
Our Strategy:
Establish a collaborative, non-competitive environment in which ideas and communication is encouraged and knowledge is freely exchanged to nurture growth and development because happy employees create happy customers.
About Us:
Avril Lekic has over 20 years’ experience working in the financial instruments industry as a business focused HR professional with expertise in administrative management and support. Avril is results driven with refined HR credentials; she recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from NYU, in May 2021, with her second Master’s degree in Business and HR Management. She received her first Masters’ degree from NYU in January 2007 in Real Estate Management after having completed her advanced degree from Baruch College, also in Real Estate.
Prior to earning her graduate degrees, Avril graduated with her undergraduate degree from Franklin College of Switzerland (Lugano, Switzerland) with a BA in Political Science and Italian Literature with a minor in Economics. And in 1997, she studied in Bologna, Italy, where she learned Italian and discovered her love of Italian Gelatos.
Esad Lekic has over 20 years of experience working in established, brand recognized, restaurants in the NYC area. Most recently working as a manager at Keith McNally’s restaurant, Morandi, which is located in the heart of Greenwich Village.
Prior to Morandi, Esad worked as a server and mixologist at Wolfgang Steakhouse and spent several years working with Drew Nieporent, owner of Nobu and Tribeca Grill, at the former Centrico Restaurant.
Furthermore, Esad studied restaurant management at the French Culinary Institute and graduated with his certificate in 2007. And most recently, he and his wife, Avril, completed his advanced certificate program in gelato making from Carpigiani Gelato University, North America.
