The Sweet Spot on Orchard Street
On Orchard Street in the Lower East Side, where creativity meets commerce and inhibitions meet invitation, John “Slim” DeWindt has created something uniquely titillating. Kinky’s Dessert Bar, with its pristine white walls adorned with suggestive art and playful innuendo, is more than just another New York dessert spot—it’s a sanctuary where sexuality and sweetness converge, where a va-jay jay shaped waffle might lead to conversations about consent, and where “safe space” takes on an entirely different flavor.
From Corporate Dreams to Sweet Reality
But one must first trace the winding path that led him here to understand how Slim arrived at this provocative intersection of desserts and desire. “Growing up, I was always one of those kids that wanted to have a nice office job with a nice view, wearing a nice suit every day,” Slim tells me, seated in his establishment where bachelorette parties might find themselves learning the art of rope play between bites of erotic pastries. “That was my idea of success,” he says. Seated amid the erotic art and sensual atmosphere of Kinky’s, nothing could be further from the sterile corner office he once dreamed of.
The Journey to Kinky’s
Slim’s path started at JETRO, a restaurant supply chain wholesaler, where he climbed from cashier to corporate, collecting promotions and benefits along the way. But the stability of a 401(k) wasn’t enough. Through various ventures – from a funnel cake company to the wildly successful John’s Juice – he learned the art of entrepreneurship through trial and error. But it was a friend’s suggestion about penis-shaped waffles that would eventually lead to his most ambitious and provocative venture yet.
“I started thinking, what if we expanded beyond just the waffle – created this full dessert bar with a sex-positive theme?” Slim recalls. But selling New York landlords on an adult-themed dessert concept proved challenging. For two years, he faced rejection after rejection, with property owners balking at adding what they considered too risqué for their portfolios. The pandemic, ironically, provided the breakthrough – slashing asking rents in half and shifting landlords’ perspectives on what constituted an acceptable tenant.
More Than Just Desserts
Today, Kinky’s serves as both a dessert destination and an educational space where curiosity is celebrated and exploration is encouraged. The venue hosts an array of events that would make a vanilla establishment blush: rope sessions for adventurous bachelorettes, wax play demonstrations that transform sensation into art, and feet play gatherings for the fetish-curious. A dominatrix might command the space one evening, teaching about power dynamics and consent, while her submissive provides a living illustration.
Creating a Safe Space for Exploration
“Everything is usually kink-related,” Slim explains, “so it’s always going to be like some kind of sexual element to it.” Recent events have included collaborations with sex magazines featuring sensual dancers and strip performances that blur the line between art and arousal. But what sets Kinky’s apart isn’t just its provocative programming – it’s the careful attention to creating an environment where exploration feels safe, and judgment stays at the door.
While Kinky’s welcomes curious newcomers, its more intimate events operate on a foundation of trust and familiarity. “Some people might not be ready for certain experiences,” Slim explains. “When someone becomes uncomfortable in these settings, it affects everyone’s energy. For anything involving sexuality or kink, the environment needs to feel safe. People must feel free to express themselves and explore without judgment.” This philosophy transforms Kinky’s from a novelty dessert shop into something more meaningful – a carefully curated community where liberation and discretion coexist.
Building Community Through Trust
Through this approach, what could have been dismissed as a gimmicky dessert shop has evolved into something far more significant. Slim and his team have created an environment where regulars become part of a larger conversation, trust builds naturally, and boundaries between the dessert bar and community space blur seamlessly. It’s a growth of trust and community that can’t be rushed or forced.
A Labor of Love
When asked about offers to buy the business, Slim’s response reveals the heart of an entrepreneur who measures success in dollars and vision fulfilled. “The number has to be so astronomical… I’m still in the early stages. This is my baby.” He pauses, looking around at the space he and his team built from scratch, from the carefully curated art to the basement kitchen where sweet treats take provocative forms. “I started this as a passion project… money is one of the goals, but it wasn’t my main goal.”
Later in our conversation, I noticed his hat bears the phrase “girls are drugs.” When I ask about it, he responds with a grin: “I’m an addict.” This kind of playful candor makes both Slim and Kinky’s compelling – there’s no pretense, just an honest celebration of pleasure in all its forms.
A Category of Its Own
In New York City’s dense ecosystem of novelty dessert shops and dimly lit adult stores, Kinky’s exists in its own category. Slim has crafted more than just another Instagram destination – he’s built a space where indulgence meets education, dessert sparks dialogue, and curiosity is rewarded with community. “Come to the store enough times, talk to us, engage with us,” Slim says simply. This invitation perfectly captures the openness and discretion that define his latest success.
For the uninitiated, Kinky’s events page (kinkysdessertbar.com) offers a first taste of what’s possible when sweetness and sensuality share the same menu.
