ADC Social Venture off to a Wonderful Start
Where can you go in the West Bank for great food and a wonderful ambiance?
Whether you are searching for a good cup of coffee and conversation, or a location for a lunch date near the University, the new Afro Deli & Coffee is the place to go.
Afro Deli & Coffee is a social venture for the African Development Center – a vision for contributing to the West Bank community. The primary objective of a social venture is to reinvest in the community, and while Afro Deli is a for-profit business, the focus and operations are aimed at contributing to the quality of life of this neighborhood. ADC spent $300,000 on renovating the space, which accounts for more than 90% of the funds needed for this development, but expects to be repaid fully in the vibrancy of culture, conversation, and community that this venture will create.
A lot of thought and care went into every aspect of the appearance of the space – from the paint on the walls to the colorful vinyl floor tiles, the artwork, the countertops and matching stools, location of the kitchen and how the food is featured. The color-scheme was inspired by the vibrant colors of the African continent. Best of all, a great deal of importance was placed on the idea that the Afro Deli should be affordable for the community, and particularly the many students living and studying in the area.
The menu is eclectic. The restaurant serves typical Somali foods like sambusas with bisbass (green hot sauce), spicy Afrosteak dinner and chicken fantastic. They also serve the North African and Mediterranean cuisine of gyros, falafel, and hummus. American staples of cheeseburgers and fries are also available. There are vegetarian options as with the popular veggie sambusa with lentils, a variety of salads, and a delicious roasted peppers veggie sandwich. For those with a sweet tooth, there is full offering of delicious desserts like baklava, tiramisu, tres leche, carrot cake, cookies, and brownies.
The deli is filled with the sounds of African music to compliment both the menu and décor of the restaurant. Although it is small, the Afro Deli is always buzzing with activity. Most of the kitchen is open for view from the seating area, and it is entertaining to watch the chefs rush to put together these amazing meals. During lunch time it is common for the Deli to be standing room only, as the space becomes filled with students, professors and neighbors from the community. With its diverse mix of patrons, Afro Deli is an exciting place to eat and connect with friends, or make new ones. Outdoor seating has been added for the warmer months, with stunning landscape and a delightful setting to watch the busy neighborhood.
So far, reviews of Afro Deli & Coffee have been consistently positive, and only getting better. Currently holding a 4.5 star rating (out of 5) from Yelp, the deli was also recently featured in a City Pages’ The Hot Dish article, as well as in Iggers Digest of the Twin Cities Daily Planet. One of the reasons for Afro Deli’s success is the hard work of the manager and entrepreneur Abdirahman Kahin, affectionately known as Kahin. Beyond his bookkeeping duties, which he maintains meticulously, he is always working in the Deli, taking orders, cleaning, or managing as needed. No job is too big or small for Kahin. Recently, Afro Deli received its catering license and is now focused on growing that side of the business as well.
Stop by this new local hot spot sometime, you will be warmly welcomed!
