The owner of a pop-up food company that brings a taste of West Africa, specifically Liberia, to Detroit has gotten a big boost in her goal to open a restaurant in the city.
Thursday night in TechTown, chef and entrepreneur Ameneh Marhaba was announced as the winner of $100,000 in the multi-week Hatch Detroit competition. In an emotional, impassioned speech to the jury, she told her story of the recent loss of her father, who brought his family to the United States from post-war Liberia for a chance at a better life.
“Also, my mother taught me a lot to not forget where I come from, not to forget my culture and not to forget where my roots are,” Marhaba said. “I wanted to bring a little bit of that Liberian spirit to Detroit, so I started a pop-up business.”
Not only did she win twice the amount of money won by Hatch winners in the last decade, but she also won thousands of dollars in pro bono professional support from Hatch Detroit and its partners, including Comerica Bank. Marhaba and the other four finalists made it this far by winning public votes. Little Liberio was selected Thursday night by a panel of judges that included Hatch alumni and other business communities.
“Little Liberia is an Afro-fusion pop-up restaurant. It’s symbolic of women and immigrant leadership, the will and experience and the culture it creates for our guests,” said Marhaba, who described herself as “a biracial immigrant with a very large a dream.” She says her food is healthy, accessible and exciting.
Little Liberia has appeared in one-off dinners at several Metro Detroit restaurants, including Brooklyn Street Local and Baobab Fare, the latter of which won the same competition in 2018. Baobab Fare co-owner Mamba Hamissi is Marhaba’s mentor and spoke at the event as a Hatch alumnus.
During the launch, Marhaba said she believes her restaurant will be the first Liberian restaurant in the city.
“We’re bringing something very new, very exciting. We’ve been doing this since 2016 … and Detroiters have embraced it,” she said. “We also want to empower other minority groups like us who came from nothing and want to make something out of their lives. We want to create a safe haven. Eat with us and just have a good time.”
Marhaba tearfully accepted a large check for $100,000.
“I’m glad I could make my dad proud,” she said.
The companies that made it to the finals are all food-related and women-owned. Five entrepreneurs hugged and took photos with each other on stage.
Here are the remaining four finalists who will continue to receive support from Hatch Detroit as alumni of the program:
Colfetaire is a European patisserie that will specialize in Romanian desserts. Owner Andrea Colfescu and her mother Claudia shifted their business to offering baking kits that children could make at home during the pandemic. The plan is to open a physical location in downtown Detroit. Follow them on facebook.com/colfetarie.
Much has been written about Detroit Farm and Cider, a nearly 5-acre commercial farm on Detroit’s west side. Owner Leandra King has been raising funds to build an on-site cider mill that will offer programs for local children and make cider and doughnuts. When her mill is up and running, she said hers will be the only black-owned cider mill in the country. Visit detroitfarmandcider.com.
Jasmine-Denard Haskins’ Asian street food offering Gajiza Dumplins specializes in the namesake food served in a variety of ways, including dishes such as fried rice, yakisoba noodles, and “tiki tots.” You can find them regularly at Lost River Tiki Bar on Detroit’s East Side. Haskins plans to sell her frozen dumplings at retail. Learn more or order frozen dumplings at gajizadumplins.com.
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Coming soon to the Avenue of Fashion, Lily’s & Elise will be serving European-style afternoon tea with pastries and small plates, as well as tea cocktails. Owner Kimberly Elise is one of only three “Tea Sommeliers” in Michigan. Follow their progress at lilysandelise.com.
Over the past decade, the Hatch Detroit competition has awarded $50,000 in grants to companies looking to open physical locations. This year, Comerica Bank doubled the prize to $100,000.
Nearly 50 participants have successfully opened storefronts over the past 10 years, according to Hatch Detroit.
Some recent alumni include winners of 27th Letter Books near Corktown, Baobab Fare African Restaurant in New Center and Meta Physica Wellness Center in Corktown. Recent finalists include The Kitchen by Cooking with Que in New Center and Warda Pâtisserie in Midtown, which won a prestigious James Beard Award last month.
“We are very eager to support and highlight Little Liberia as the newest addition to the city’s growing small business landscape,” Hatch Detroit CEO Vittoria Katanski said in a statement after the event. “After 10 years of Comerica Hatch Detroit competition, it’s so evident how strong and deep the entrepreneurial spirit is in Detroit, and Little Liberia is a great example of persistence and hard work paying off. As an organization, Hatch Detroit continues to support its alumni and winners even after the competition, and we look forward to seeing where this win takes Little Liberia.”
Follow the progress of Little Liberia at facebook.com/littleliberia or on Instagram @little_liberia.
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