Community Sparks Detroit Brick-and-Mortar Breakthrough

2 Min Read By Bobby Connors

Restaurateur Ameneh Marhaba has fire in her belly — and it’s not just her “Hot Keyeh Sauce.”

Fueled by the legacy of a courageous father and guidance of a resilient mother, Marhaba has transformed a lifetime of cooking for survival into a  career slated to hit a major milestone in 2024 with the opening of her first permanent Little Liberia location. 

Marhaba’s rising star traces back to humble origins many aspiring chef-owners will recognize, leaning on imagination and grit to gain traction through pop-up operations.

Ameneh Marhaba

Photos by Alejandro Ugalde from FeatherstoneMarhaba has also gained a leg up by leveraging local resources like entrepreneurial training programs and business pitch competitions to secure funds to expand her ventures.

Starting From Scratch to Winning “Hatch”Opening the doors of a new restaurant often requires courting investors or taking on sizeable loans to get operations off the ground. For many, even getting approved for those loans…