When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, we’re guessing “be more ambitious” isn’t one that Jerilyn Sheppheard needed to make. At 15 years old, Sheppheard started a stand selling brownies in her front yard in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood.

“I wanted to start a business, but I didn’t know what kind of business,” Sheppheard said. “I was trying to think of something that I don’t see a lot of and I thought brownies — I’ve never seen a business based around brownies. I always baked with my grandma. The recipe is my grandma’s recipe.”

Yumyyum Brownies — including a signature Brownie Sundaes in a Cup, layers of brownies, ice cream, syrup, sauce, fruit or candy toppings and whipped cream — became such a hit that Sheppheard started taking special orders for her desserts. To keep up with the demand, Sheppheard found herself employing more than a dozen youths.

This month, Sheppheard, now 18, opened a bricks-and-mortar shop on University Avenue and Victoria Street. In addition to brownies, the menu at Yumyum Brownies Shop includes Mason jar cakes and pies, cinnamon rolls, fondue plates, sandwiches, hot cocoa and coffee.

The place is more than a dessert business for Sheppheard. It allows the Highland Park Senior High School graduate to create job opportunities for young people and forge a gathering place that gives back to the community.

The youth-owned and -operated shop currently employs five teens and Sheppheard hopes that number climbs as the business grows.

“Youth power is important,” she said. “When I was a kid, I was inspired by other kids to go after your dreams. A lot of people think that you have to wait until you’re older to start working on your dreams, and we want to show them that you can start at any age.”

The space doubles as a spot for the community. A “Free Kids Fun Zone” in one corner of the shop invites kids to ride a tricycle, Hula Hoop and more. The shop offers free homework help daily. Birthday parties and other events also can be held in the space.

Regular events include children’s story time, from 5 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday and noon to 1 p.m. every Saturday; karaoke on Wednesdays; family game night every Thursday; open mic night on Fridays; and every third Saturday of the month, Sheppheard plans to feature local vendors at the shop.

Youth Give Back meetings are held 2 to 4 p.m. every Saturday. On the drawing board: Packaging and delivering meals to the homeless, modeled after an effort by Sheppheard and her sister in which they made food and distributed 40 meals to the homeless over Thanksgiving.

As for the Yumyum Brownies stand on Thomas Avenue and Chatsworth Street a few blocks away, fans can expect to see it up and running during the warm-weather months. It will make appearances at festivals and events, too.

“I want to grow the store that we have,” Sheppheard said, but “we’re also going to continue to do our brownie stand.”

YUMYUM BROWNIES

Where: 858 University Ave., St. Paul, at the corner of University Avenue and Victoria Street; enter through the Victoria Street side door.

For more information: See the Yumyum Brownies Facebook page.