Black Restaurant Week uplifts Black-owned culinary businesses
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Black Restaurant Week is a campaign that is focused on stimulating local economies by uplifting Black-owned culinary businesses, including many right here in Columbus.
The restaurant staff at Jerky’s Jamaican Grill have felt the impact of this event over the years and staff said they appreciate the community for helping them grow over the years. Head chef Tedroy McKenzie grew up in Jamaica and has dreamed of an opportunity to cook for others on a larger scale.
“Started in Jamaica, just cooking at home, my grandmother showed me certain stuff,” McKenzie said. “Then in New York where I cook for my friends and everybody loved it, tell me how amazing it was, then here when I get an opportunity to really show what I’m really made of.”
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Black Restaurant Week continues until Sept. 22. The managing partner of the campaign, Derek Robinson, said it brings awareness, support and marketing possibilities to Black-owned restaurants in Ohio and around the country.
“The opportunity of being able to highlight these amazing business owners in the culinary space, the Black culinary space — it has been nothing short of amazing,” Robinson said. “Just giving them their flowers and their due, if you will.”
Jerky’s Jamaican Grill opened in 2021 and has grown to be a staple in the Short North through the help of campaigns like Black Restaurant Week and community support. Owner Sanjiv Bacchas is grateful for how their story is unfolding.
“The impact of Black Restaurant Week is really good for us. It helps promote local businesses and let people know that we’re here,” Bacchas said. “We have a lot of college students that come by to check us out. We also have a lot of working professionals that just work downtown, they’ve came they helped grow this brand into a larger brand. Everyone in Columbus knows about Jerky’s Jamaican Grill, and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Columbus.”
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