> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.dailydetroit.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Baobab Fare doubles down on Detroit with East Warren groundbreaking - URL: https://www.dailydetroit.com/baobab-fare-doubles-down-on-detroit-with-east-warren-groundbreaking/ - Published: 2026-10-27T00:44:41.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-27T00:44:41.000Z - Description: The neighborhood asked for more sit-down restaurants - Author: Jer Staes - Tags: #blog, Food and Drink Hey friends, Jer here. Baobab Fare had opportunities to expand to other cities. Instead, owners Mamba Hamissi and Nadia Nijimbere chose to put down deeper roots in Detroit. On Monday, I was at the groundbreaking for their second Baobab Fare location, at 16900 East Warren, in the East English Village neighborhood. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/f5/47f528d4-7214-4519-b2b2-26249e48460d/content/images/2026/10/E5F5AFA4-3B4A-4F3B-8E77-7BFDE274F513_1_102.jpeg) “We want this restaurant to succeed, and we want that success to mean something for this neighborhood,” said Mamba. The roughly 3,000-square-foot building has been vacant for about a decade. [The couple bought it in March 2024;](https://www.bridgedetroit.com/james-beard-semi-finalist-baobab-fare-closes-on-new-east-side-location/?ref=dailydetroit.com) it previously housed a video store and a tax preparation office. If you haven't been, [Baobab Fare](https://baobabfare.com/?ref=dailydetroit.com) serves East African food at Woodward and Grand Boulevard. The couple, who came to the United States as refugees from Burundi, [were finalists for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurateur award in 2024.](https://www.jamesbeard.org/stories/the-2024-restaurant-and-chef-award-nominees?ref=dailydetroit.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/f5/47f528d4-7214-4519-b2b2-26249e48460d/content/images/2026/10/unnamed.jpg) A rendering of Baobab Fare’s planned East Warren location. Getting to this point meant funding worries, bureaucratic headaches and a nudge from Joe Rashid of the East Warren Development Corporation. Mamba had asked him about a small space to sell their products. Rashid suggested buying a building instead. “I was like, ‘No, I don’t have money to buy a building.’ He said, ‘Just say yes,’” Mamba said. Mamba joked about regretting that yes, then thanked Rashid for making sure he never felt alone in the process. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/f5/47f528d4-7214-4519-b2b2-26249e48460d/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-26-at-8.10.28---PM-1.png) ### A restaurant residents asked for Rashid said residents themselves had pushed for more dining options. Outreach funded by Invest Detroit in 2021 involved knocking on 8,700 homes, he said, and sit-down restaurants were the top request. District 4 Council Member Latisha Johnson said residents kept asking her when Baobab Fare would get started, so she kept asking Mamba. “Everyone wants a Baobab Fare in their district, in their community,” Johnson said. Johnson also noted that Mamba has been showing up at other small businesses’ groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings throughout District 4. ### No opening date yet BridgeDetroit reported a late 2024 target when the couple bought the building. [Eater Detroit later reported an expected opening sometime in 2026.](https://detroit.eater.com/2025/3/31/24393164/detroit-biggest-most-anticipated-restaurant-openings-spring-2025-coming-attractions?ref=dailydetroit.com) Then the owners invited everyone to eat from the Waka food truck, on them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/f5/47f528d4-7214-4519-b2b2-26249e48460d/content/images/2026/10/6E219C9C-B141-44E6-A633-1CA75490A982_1_105_c.jpeg) “Sharing food is how Nadia and I say thank you,” Mamba said. “Today, the food is on us.” So I stuck around for beef chapati and a [Fizzy passion fruit drink](https://sokobybaobabfare.com/products/fizzy-passion-fruit-pack-of-4?ref=dailydetroit.com) they developed themselves. A pretty good way to wrap up an afternoon on East Warren. ## Sign up for Daily Detroit | Local Newsmagazine, Podcast & Newsletter What to know and where to go in Metro Detroit. Your daily newsmagazine, podcast, and newsletter covering local news, culture, history, and dining. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/f5/47f528d4-7214-4519-b2b2-26249e48460d/content/images/2026/10/60D5FC43-3C08-4085-9553-84171A803BD5_1_102.jpeg) **👀 Eye Spy:** On the way back, I spotted a “coming soon” sign for Black Tie Express Soul Food at Mack and Iroquois, just outside Indian Village. The building formerly housed Franklin’s Dairy Bar, which operated from 1969 until a few years ago. [\[Instagram\]](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPezLQOElNc/?ref=dailydetroit.com) --- ⚙️ Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum is back open at its new West Bloomfield location. A grand opening celebration is still to come. [\[WXYZ\]](https://www.wxyz.com/news/marvins-marvelous-mechanical-museum-officially-opens-in-new-location?ref=dailydetroit.com) --- **⚽️ Playoff soccer returns to Keyworth Stadium Friday, Oct. 30\. No. 3 seed Detroit City FC hosts No. 6 Hartford Athletic at 8 p.m.** In home league matches this season, City lost just once and allowed only two goals from open play. [Get tickets,](https://www.detcityfc.com/tickets/?ref=dailydetroit.com) watch free on CBS Sports Golazo Network or stream on Paramount+ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/47/f5/47f528d4-7214-4519-b2b2-26249e48460d/content/images/2026/10/phezzy-line-break-daily-detroit-email-14.png) 📬 First time here? [Make sure you sign up for future free newsletter.](https://www.dailydetroit.com/newsletter/) 💪 Want to keep all-local coverage going? [Become a member on Patreon! ](https://patreon.com/DailyDetroit?utm%5Fmedium=unknown&utm%5Fsource=join%5Flink&utm%5Fcampaign=creatorshare%5Fcreator&utm%5Fcontent=copyLink) Appreciate you sharing your inbox with me. Remember that you are somebody, \-Jer