Forty Acres Soul Kitchen
| About: | Soul food eatery bringing African American food traditions to Grand Rapids with an emphasis on healthy and vegetarian options. |
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| Location: | Grand Rapids, MI |
| Investment: | $50,000 loan |
| Partners: | Northern Initiatives |
| Impact: | Michigan Good Food Fund loan supporting Forty Acres Soul Kitchen launch, bringing 15 jobs to the community. |
Forty Acres Soul Kitchen opened in March 2018 as Grand Rapids’ only African American-owned full-service restaurant. Key to its mission? Celebrating African American history and culinary traditions. From the name Forty Acres, a reference to the “40 acres and a mule” promise the United States government made to formerly enslaved black farmers, to the menu of traditional soul food with healthy twists, the restaurant celebrates black culture and food traditions. Co-owners Lewis Williams and Darel Ross II are also committed to bringing minority-owned businesses back into the redeveloping Wealthy Street District, an area with a deep history of minority-owned business. Michigan Good Food Fund financing provided critical operations funding, helping Forty Acres as it open its doors to the community.