Big E's Soul (North side Victory)
Donation protected
In 2001 an idea was launched that would bring affordable, sophisticated Soul Food to the Stevens Square community of South Minneapolis. The start up restaurant would be known as Big E's Soul Food. It was to be headed by it's chief developer Chef Eric (Big E) Austin. The initial sentence of Chef E's business plan stated " Chef Eric Austin will become synonymous with the term "soul food" in the Minneapolis area. For the following 9 years, the highly publicized critically acclaimed restaurant won several city accolades including, but not limited to; "Best new restaurant :Soulful" AOL's "best new place to warm up to Minneapolis", and several local critic nominations including "best new four star chef Eric Austin, (Minneapolis/ St.Paul magazine, Star Tribune Newspaper) Big E's Soul Food became the hub for local and national celebrities, politicians, sports figures, entertainment arts icons as well as maintaining its original promise to bringing and keeping affordable, sophisticated Southern and Soul Food cuisine to the Stevens Square Community.
Since it's closing in late 2009 all of the Minneapolis Areas including residents of St. Paul have requested, practically demanded a ressurrection of the famed Big E's Soul Food Restaurant and it's founding chef, me.
Big E's was more than just another soul food joint. It acted as a beacon to show that thriving African American ventures were possible in a Minneapolis depleted of such endeavors. In the latest installment of Big E's Soul food I intend to bring he same vibe of community, food and family to the Victory neighborhood of North Minneapolis. A sit down 40 - 60 seat full service eatery with patio included, on the corner of 44th and Penn Avenue, with the same great food that Minneapolis and it's surrounding metros so celebrated with the original Big E's restaurant. The money raised will be used for start up, and those things associated with starting a new restaurant - operating costs, initial inventory and all licensures needed to begin. We will bring positive attention to the Victory community while offering it's residents a sit down, casual fine dining Southern Soul well established eatery, with a longstanding reputation for success. I hope to reach this goal by Spring of 2018, so that with the newness of Spring a new chapter can begin.
This is it people of Minneapolis, and all else that know me. You all know through various social media and speaking with me directly that this is a project very dear to me. From offering culinary training and jobs skill placement to our neighborhood's so called "at risk youth" to keeping our families fed. I am asking for your help, the man who has spent his Minneapolis residence showing you what the Big (purple) E stands for. It belongs to all of us. Let's all of us bring it back!
Since it's closing in late 2009 all of the Minneapolis Areas including residents of St. Paul have requested, practically demanded a ressurrection of the famed Big E's Soul Food Restaurant and it's founding chef, me.
Big E's was more than just another soul food joint. It acted as a beacon to show that thriving African American ventures were possible in a Minneapolis depleted of such endeavors. In the latest installment of Big E's Soul food I intend to bring he same vibe of community, food and family to the Victory neighborhood of North Minneapolis. A sit down 40 - 60 seat full service eatery with patio included, on the corner of 44th and Penn Avenue, with the same great food that Minneapolis and it's surrounding metros so celebrated with the original Big E's restaurant. The money raised will be used for start up, and those things associated with starting a new restaurant - operating costs, initial inventory and all licensures needed to begin. We will bring positive attention to the Victory community while offering it's residents a sit down, casual fine dining Southern Soul well established eatery, with a longstanding reputation for success. I hope to reach this goal by Spring of 2018, so that with the newness of Spring a new chapter can begin.
This is it people of Minneapolis, and all else that know me. You all know through various social media and speaking with me directly that this is a project very dear to me. From offering culinary training and jobs skill placement to our neighborhood's so called "at risk youth" to keeping our families fed. I am asking for your help, the man who has spent his Minneapolis residence showing you what the Big (purple) E stands for. It belongs to all of us. Let's all of us bring it back!
Organizer
Eric Austin
Organizer
