12-year old John, with mom Patricia

Meet the 12-year-old Owner of Cupcakes on 8th Store

Almost everyone dreams of having their own business. But not everyone is lucky as this 12-year-old boy from Wisconsin.

Meet, John Truel, a 12-year old boy with Down Syndrome. Who with the support of his mom, Patricia run and operate their very own business, Cupcakes on 8th.

John works at the register while Patricia does all the baking.

Patricia ran "Baked by Patricia" cupcake store in Long Island, New York for years. Then the family moved to Wisconsin and bought the Cupcakes on 8th store late last year.

She made John her co-owner because she knew this would be a great way for John to interact with people and to work on his life skills.  Aside from that, it would also be a training ground for her son to be good in math and interact with different types of people.

John’s pink cash register.

Patricia made John in charge of the cash register, and he had to greet all the customers as they came through the door. But John's favorite duty is when he and his mom get to invent cupcake flavors.

Students visited the shop.

This mother and son duo from Wisconsin have always been close.  Patricia even said that working long hours John has helped her develop a whole new level of understanding -- to John's abilities and disabilities, his special needs in particular.

Cupcakes on 8th co-owner John Truel with Rep. Spiros

The two owners hope to hire other special needs people in the future as they want to help them the way the Cupcakes at 8th Shop helped John overcome his disabilities.

Thanks, Patricia and John for this beautiful and inspiring story!

“Mother is her son's first god; she must teach him the most important lesson of all - how to love.”

 - T. F. Hodge