Get Ready Philadelphia, a brand new African American-owned and operated restaurant is coming to Olde City in the downtown section of Philadelphia in the Fall of 2021.
SCOOPVIZION Newspaper is pleased to share this good news. This newspaper is specifically all about African American-owned and operated businesses and other businesses owned by people from the Diaspora. The goal is to promote these various businesses, tell the world about them, and ensure that everyone knows that Black People Mean Business, large and small.
So let us introduce you to Felicia Wilson. She’s a feisty, focused, and very determined entrepreneur who has already successfully operated several businesses. Then finally, she decided in the last two years to fulfill one of her biggest dreams and become the owner of a restaurant.
The name of the eatery is Amina Restaurant and Lounge. It’s located in a prime Philadelphia real estate territory, Olde City, at 104 Chestnut Street. Wilson describes the concept for her business.
“The concept for the cuisine we will serve is American/Southern, with a flare of African spices on certain dishes. Our Executive Chef I am pleased to share is Darryl Harmon, formerly known for being the Executive Chef at the famed Waterworks Restaurant behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Wilson added, “I chose the name Amina for the restaurant because it means “Goddess Warrior,” and Amina is the name of my youngest daughter.
The décor and ambiance of Amina Restaurant and Lounge will have an African style to it, according to Wilson. She says they’ll have beautiful artwork on their walls for patrons to enjoy. While the food will be delec- table, she also wants Amina’s guests to enjoy African and African American culture as they eat their meals.
Opening any business is more than a notion as everyone knows. It takes pre-planning and strategizing, having a business plan. You need to know your market. Know your competition, etc. Then when you talk about going into the restaurant business, one of the toughest businesses to go into, the hurdles get even higher, business experts say. Felicia Wilson says she’s done her homework.
I know the ups and downs that businesses can go through, having been a
businesswoman for over 20 years already. I’ve earned two Master’s Degrees. I didn’t just decide to be a businesswoman on a whim and come into this unprepared. I just recently sold my hair salon/barbershop that I operated for years. I still operate a Day Care business and another business as well. I understand that every day will not be an easy day or a smooth day when you are in business, whether it’s an accounting firm, a dollar store, or a restaurant. But when I think of the name “Amina” and what it means, I knew that Amina was what I needed to name this restaurant, to help give me the strength to get through any challenges ahead.”
She knows that restaurants that have a liquor license, for example, are the most profitable types of restaurants. People often gravitate towards a place where they can have a drink and get a good meal after a long day, either to wind down from the work hours with a cold beverage or to fill up on delicious appetizers before dinner. Wilson also recognizes that pleasant and professional wait staff service is key, and she plans to offer all of that.
Originally slated to open in June of 2021, Felicia Wilson commented, “Due to unexpected delays in getting a liquor license, some License and Inspection issues, and some concerns that needed to be addressed with the business association, the Olde City District, everything came to a halt.”
Prior to Felicia Wilson planning to open Amina’s at 104 Chestnut, the location had already been home to a restaurant for over twenty-five years. That restaurant was closed eight years ago. It used to be the Mexican Post Restaurant.
Amina Restaurant, 104 Chestnut Street, is a popular location for tourists and Philadelphians alike. Wilson has already acquired the services of a well-known Chef (mentioned earlier), who is well-known and respected. She’s looking forward to the grand opening day and beyond, with great expectations. Felicia Wilson declares that even the stumbling blocks along the way that have delayed her opening, will not deny her opening.
For more details about the challenges facing Felicia Wilson as she moves forward with opening Amina Restaurant, read the June 15, 2021 edition of SCOOP USA Media Newspaper, available online and in print at various locations around the tri-state area.
