October 6, 2021
Minority & Small Business Week
Page 5
Resilience Leads to African Kitchen
New business
owner adapted
for success
Business owner Khadro
Abdi, a refugee from Somalia
who came to Portland in 2005,
has demonstrated both her own
resilience and the power of
Portland’s entrepreneurial eco-
system.
Married and the mother two
children, Abdi recently shared
her story of creating Alleamin
African Kitchen during dif-
ficult times with the help of
resources backed by Prosper
Portland, the city’s economic
development agency.
Abdi was able to adapt to
her new culture, language and
business environment by main-
taining a positive attitude, rec-
ognizing that while starting a
business is complex and diffi-
cult, it’s also a learning process.
Her support came from sev-
eral nonprofits funded through
Prosper Portland’s Inclusive
Business Resource Network.
IBRN members Livelihood
NW, IRCO and others offered Portland business owner Khadro Abdi started Alleamin African Kitchen, a micro restaurant
help with food product devel- selling fresh Somalian food, sauces and catering, in August 2020.
opment and licensing as well
as legal and accounting advice.
A Small Business Develop-
ment Center course inspired
her to develop a unique spicy/
sweet red sauce to pair with
the sambusas she served at her
first small restaurant. Thanks
to a partnership with local
grocery Market of Choice she
launched her Alleamin Yanyo
sauce in 2017.
In August 2020, in the midst
of the pandemic, she opened
Alleamin African Kitchen, a
micro restaurant selling fresh
Somalian food, sauces, and ca-
tering.
Her food products are now
available at groceries and
farmers markets throughout
Portland. She is grateful for
the help she’s received from
the network partners, saying,
“They helped me with both
personal and business ques-
tions. I found kindness and cul-
tural understanding.”
Alleamin African Kitchen is
located at 6935 N.E. Glisan St.
For more information, make an
order or reach the restaurant,
call 971-279-4016, use Door-
dash or email alleamin2012@
gmail.com