Greater Washington Urban League
Black Restaurant Accelerator Success Stories
Mix & Mingle Coffee Lounge
Hosted an education and networking event at Culture Coffee, a 2021 BRAP Grantee, at which the founders of Mix & Mingle participated in the learning. GWUL immediately began one-on-one coaching and introduced them to resources to assist in opening their coffee shop.
Guided this Black women-led start-up in the coffee and adult beverage business to recognize their niche and identify a location in Maryland. GWUL orchestrated customer engagement strategies and market research to ensure Mix & Mingle was infused with input from the community, ultimately leading to patronage by its members.
Advised and helped owners develop a multi-layered business model with diverse income streams. Mix & Mingle goes beyond selling beverages to also include rental income from offering shared kitchen space and garnering event income from hosting pop-ups featuring other Black-owned businesses.
Walked clients through navigating licensing, buildout, and equipment purchasing processes.
Mix & Mingle has acquired and/or leased the necessary equipment, the installation of which is nearly complete. The eminent launch of Mix & Mingle is just a few short months away. The BRAP Grant facilitated their equipment purchase.
Chefs on the Street
Guided through the mandatory closure of all businesses resulting from COVID-19 – The catering business had to be shifted to a meal delivery model. Advised them that meal delivery became a core competency and, thus, their pathway to survival.
Connected them to quality commercial kitchen space and helped to renew their license.
Featured them through the DMV Black Restaurant Week joint marketing campaign and secured free membership to RAMW and US Black Chambers. Introduced and facilitated participation in the Pepsi Taste event.
Chefs of the Streets repaired and upgraded their cargo/delivery truck to enable continued food delivery and catering service. Also, they increased advertising with the addition of vehicle-side signage and graphics. These enhancements enabled the completion of large event orders and heightened business promotion, thus increasing gross sales. BRAP Grant afforded COTS $10,000.