Hello. I am Sarah Cole, an Alabama Black Belt native who moved back South with a mission. In October 2020, after many years of dreaming, I started Abadir's, a one-woman, minority owned pop-up eatery traveling throughout the state with a menu that's somewhat different for this rural area. Tying together my Egyptian-Southern roots, I'm working to provide more wholesome, globally influenced foods in this region and our State. All dishes are created with taste and goodness in mind.

We have received an overwhelming amount of support since opening, earning national attention from various publications . The thought of an Arab influenced eatery opening in rural Alabama is somewhat intriguing and confusing to many people, but it's brought a lot of conversation and excitement over the possibilities we can create for this region.

"Abadir" is a family name, the name my mom and her family changed when moving from Egypt to the United States in 1982 as a way to hide their ethnicity in the South. It's a name I've always loved, and by their spreading the name, I'm giving them a voice in this rural space.

Life in the Black Belt + Our Vision

The Alabama Black Belt is one of the poorest regions in the country . With limited access to crucial resources (jobs, food, housing, etc.), this area has seen a great migration out over the past several years while other areas in Alabama continue to see growth . But let us not focus on the negative narratives of this area. This region is filled with a rich communal culture and history that we are working to celebrate and honor. The Alabama Black Belt is a thriving, biologically diverse and culturally diverse region. We are fully committed to creating positive movement by working to reshape the area through food, knowledge, and nourishment. We want to create an opportunity for growth that is all centered around food and sharing space.

In March 2023, we purchased a 1901 Victorian cottage in downtown Greensboro. Abadir's currently operates from this space utilizing a very small commercial kitchen (that we built ourselves!) for pop-up prep. Now that we own the property, we're ready to expand. The property was used as a duplex for several years, so we're building upon this layout to incorporate one large commercial kitchen with two prep stations and two dining rooms in the space. This expansion will 1) allow Abadir's to offer more regular hours and seasonal menu to our local community and 2) provide chefs, educators, small food operations and food-based nonprofits with a beautiful space to work. We are creating a multi-use space that will allow this small business to grow all while providing greater opportunity for this community and region.

This expansion will give us an opportunity to expand our menu, providing more meals to our community, all while creating more jobs for the area. We're dedicated to making this a mission driven eatery, one that works to ensure everyone has a seat at the table through a "pay-it-forward" payment system, which will be open globally, as well as $5 meal options for those on fixed income. Both options will be available in addition to our regular seasonal menu. This battle for inclusivity helps break down the barriers of class divide that exist within all communities. But there's more to it.

In addition to establishing a more wholesome restaurant in this rural food apartheid and providing more creative jobs with better pay, we're highlighting our agricultural roots by working with our local farmers and producers to create a seasonal, fresh plant-focused menu. We'll continue doing pop-ups across the state with our expansion, and we'll begin offering grab-n-go meal options in our retail space.

Outsiders have this idea about what sort of people exist in the Alabama Black Belt, but this area is ripe with history and culture. The fact that our small business has grown so much in its first two years shows just how special our community truly is. This area is home to a range of organizations and people who are dedicated to building a better future for this region and we are grateful for their efforts. While Abadir's is a one-woman operation, this vision is a group effort. We would not have made it this far if it wasn't for the love of friends, family, loved ones, community members, and supporters.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

I, along with my partner Robert, are actively working on the future space. We're doing all current renovations ourselves, which has been almost impossible when balancing our own businesses. I am asking for support in hopes of making the dream space a reality.

Here's what your donation will support:
· the renovation of the cottage (estimated build-out cost: $65,000)
· kitchen equipment for everyone to use!

Any leftover funds will go toward salary for future employees.

You're also supporting a woman- and minority-owned purpose-driven business. More importantly, your contribution will help build a unique food space in rural Alabama.

WHAT IS A COLLABORATIVE FOOD SPACE?

This isn't your typical eatery. We're building a local food hub that can encompass a range of food-based opportunities. Here's what we're dreaming up:

· local, regional & national chefs will have a kitchen to take-over to provide unique dining experiences in our space
· providing a space for educational food-based opportunities where local organizations and non-profits can use the space for food distribution services, a "soup kitchen," or classes for the community
· offering a rentable commercial kitchen for cottage food businesses who are looking to grow!
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LEARN MORE ABOUT ABADIR'S: www.eatabadirs.com

Follow us on social: @eatabadirs

Abadir’s is a FOR PROFIT business. Donations are not tax deductible.

The Abadir's Cottage in downtown Greensboro

let's build a collaborative food space in rural Alabama

Team Members