'We're still floating': Big Nita's owners reflect on life-changing Derby weekend

When Churchill Downs came calling, Big Nita's said yes, and then Louisville showed up to support them.

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Nicole Burks and her fiancé and business partner, Roberto 'Berto' Davila, are still floating.

Days after serving their signature cheesecakes at the Kentucky Derby- and walking the actual red carpet at Churchill Downs- the co-owners of Big Nita Cheesecake's in Butchertown are trying to wrap their heads around what just happened.

"It genuinely doesn't feel real," Nicole told me this week, her voice still raspy from the whirlwind weekend. "You get up every day, and you wonder- is today going to be the day it all just dies down because it's kind of just too good to be true? And then things just keep happening and keep escalating."

The deal that almost wasn't

The path to Derby weekend started with what looked like a missed opportunity. Someone from the hospitality group that handles catering for Churchill Downs reached out about Big Nita's becoming the official dessert of the Kentucky Derby.

"We were planning to make thousands of cheesecakes. It was a big deal," Nicole said. But budget negotiations fell through, and that seemed to be that.

Except it wasn't.

A couple days later, Brandon Fullen, from Churchill Downs, called with a different proposition. Churchill Downs was launching several new experiences for Derby 2026, and they wanted Big Nita's to be part of them.

The result- Big Nita's created cheesecakes for Derby sponsors like Woodford Reserve (including a special collaboration with the brand for their new bourbon release) and made mini cheesecakes to accompany dishes from celebrity chefs at exclusive private events.

Royal treatment

From the moment Nicole and Berto arrived at Churchill Downs, they were treated like VIPs- because, well, they were.

"They literally treated us like royalty," Nicole said. "We got to see all of the back stuff of the Derby, like where they bring in the celebrities and the red carpet."

They received badges that gave them access to every level of Churchill Downs- from Millionaires Row, to Matt Winn's Steakhouse. They were given all of the food and drinks they wanted. Nicole said they didn't just deliver the cheesecakes and leave- they received introductions to celebrities like Bobby Flay and Damaris Phillips.

"He made sure our experience was a great opportunity for our business," Nicole said. "He made sure we met a bunch of different people."

For a couple who'd never really experienced the Derby together (Berto went to the infield once in college years ago), it was surreal.

The imposter syndrome is real

Nicole's candor about how it feels to live this moment is refreshing. She talks openly about imposter syndrome, about waiting for the other shoe to drop, about struggling to accept that this is actually their life now.

"When these kinds of things happen to you, you're like, what? Like, how?" she said. "It's very much like imposter syndrome."

But here's the thing: they've earned every bit of it. Nicole and Berto work relentlessly. Louisville has watched them build this business from the ground up, one cheesecake at a time, from their own kitchen to the Main Street storefront. The community has rallied around them not just because the cheesecakes are exceptional (though they absolutely are), but because their story is genuine.

And this Derby weekend? The whole city seemed to want to be part of it.

"It was truly incredible to see so many people reach out and want to make the experience for us the most memorable," Nicole said. Local businesses helped them get Derby-ready, social media lit up with excitement, and the support was overwhelming.

"We're still just like, oh my God, that was just so amazing," she said. "We genuinely don't feel like it could have been any better."

What's next

Right now, the owners of Big Nita's are fielding multiple news interviews and podcast requests. But beyond the media attention, Nicole and Berto are thinking strategically about the future.

Their lease is up within the next year, and their landlord has bigger buildings available if they want to expand. First priority: hiring another round of staff.

"Berto and I are ready to bring some more people in so we are able to take a step back a little bit to do more opportunities like going to the Derby," Nicole explained.

Sweat, sacrifice & sweet success; the story behind Louisville’s top dessert shop

Big Nita’s Cheesecakes sells out every day they’re open. The business has gone “viral” more than once, bringing in customers from across the country. But this business was born out of desperation and the owners never forget that. “I’m Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform

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That doesn't mean they're leaving the business- Nicole was quick to clarify that. But they need to be able to keep the storefront open when major opportunities come knocking. This Derby weekend, their team managed to handle both the Churchill Downs order and keep the shop open for regular customers. It worked, but it was tight.

"If Jennifer Hudson calls and we need to fly wherever she's at"- Nicole is manifesting a Jennifer Hudson Show appearance, and honestly, same- "we want to be able to keep our storefront open."

They're also focusing more energy on social media, which has been taking off. And that requires time Nicole doesn't have when she's decorating cheesecakes all day.

Staying rooted in Louisville

When we talked last fall, franchising wasn't on the table. After this Derby weekend and all the attention that's followed, I had to ask: has that changed?

"Definitely no to the franchising," Nicole said firmly. "It's just not something we're very interested in at the moment."

But they are open to a bigger location- everything still under one roof, she and Berto still heavily involve- but multiple locations or franchising? Not right now.

"Louisville is our home, Butchertown is our home, and that's just kind of where we're at with it," she said.

I'll admit, I was one of the people who panicked a bit when Nicole posted they were moving the business to Nashville on April Fools Day. She laughed and said people are still messaging her about it and she's never doing that again.

But the truth is, Big Nita's doesn't need to expand to Nashville or franchise across the country to be successful. They already are successful. Wildly so. They're Louisville's most sought-after dessert, the cheesecake you can't get unless you plan ahead, the business everyone wants a piece of.

And now they're the local shop that served cheesecakes at the Kentucky Derby and walked the red carpet.

Nicole keeps saying she and Berto don't take one second of it for granted. That they're humble and grateful and sometimes can't quite believe it's all happening.

But watching this unfold from the outside- it makes perfect sense. Good things happen to good people who work hard and stay true to who they are.

And in Louisville, we love seeing our own shine.

PS- An in-depth interview with Nicole and Berto was one of my very first stories on Shay Informed. You can read that story or listen to the interview now!

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