Editor’s note: Since this story was originally written, Alex Na hosted another free tiramisu drop over the weekend, continuing to build a following around his community dessert project. This feature was submitted by Jordan Smith, a journalism student at the Richard T. Robertson School of Communication at Virginia Commonwealth University. We publish work from emerging writers and students from time to time in order to give new voices room to grow and contribute to Richmond’s story.
By Jordan Smith
When he first stumbled across a brownie tiramisu recipe on TikTok, Alex Na was not planning to start a mini dessert movement. A pan of birthday leftovers, one TikTok post, and an unexpected crowd were all it took for Na’s weekends to turn into a weekly ritual of giving out free tiramisu around the River City.
The 26-year-old became a local phenomenon after that first experimental batch in October. His tiramisu giveaways drew lines of strangers and eventually built a small community of regulars.
“It’s my way of giving back to the community in a way that’s bigger than just monetary towards an organization,” Na said.
Although Na now has a loyal following in Richmond, he has only lived in the city for six months.
Originally from Maryland, Na moved to Richmond for a corporate job opportunity. Like many newcomers, he arrived without a built-in social circle. Plenty of locals have left his events with new friends, which is why these small tiramisu drops matter to him.
“I realized that there’s a lot of people like me who moved here for work, moved here for school, and don’t know a lot of people,” Na said. “Through these drops, hopefully, they can meet cool people.”
What started as a solo project quickly became a collaborative effort. At first, Na would spend three hours the night before each drop making tiramisu by himself. Now he has volunteers and sponsors who help supply ingredients.
The support has come from all corners of the small business community. A martial arts supply store called RVA Katana, the cat cafe The Purrfect Bean, and the halal restaurant Basically Halal have all backed his events.
Na hosted a recent drop on Nov. 23 outside Basically Halal on 316 N. Arch Road. The event offered both classic tiramisu and a Dubai chocolate variation.
Among the people in line were Gabi Miranda and Nicholas Da Silva, who heard about the event on TikTok. Miranda, a first-time attendee, said curiosity pulled her from Church Hill to the West End. The location was easy enough to reach.
“We live in Church Hill, so a little bit into the Richmond city,” she said. “I feel like it was pretty easy to get here.”
Da Silva said the scene reminded him of the random, quirky events that tend to pop up around Richmond.
“It’s one of those very weird Richmond events that just sort of pops up organically and then a ton of people come to,” he said. “I feel like it’s very in the spirit of Richmond.”
He noted how important it is to have community-centered gatherings that exist outside work or commerce.
“Having a thing that’s external from work or buying stuff, I think it’s something people really crave,” he said. “Especially in today’s world where we’re all very disconnected in our own worlds.”
Even though the event is popular and could easily become a profitable business, Na said he is committed to keeping it free.
“There’s no interest in me selling it,” he said. “This is all like a free giveaway.”
To keep the project financially sustainable, Na relies on his corporate job salary, donations, and support from small businesses. Although he accepts Venmo donations during each drop, half of everything he receives goes to RVA Community Fridges, a local organization fighting food insecurity.
Na chose RVA Community Fridges because of the rising need following the halt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits during the federal government shutdown in November 2025. By directing half of the donations to RVA Community Fridges, the tiramisu drops also help support food-access efforts across the region.
Na plans to select additional nonprofits for future events, continuing the donation model he has already established. He said these gatherings are as much about community as they are about dessert.
“I think community building and a sense of belonging is important,” he said.
What began as a birthday treat unexpectedly grew into a small Richmond phenomenon. For Na, the meaning behind it is simple.
“As long as you can build your community, find your niche, and get people to find a sense of belonging here, then I think I’ve done my job.”
Follow his story HERE
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