The House ZADDY's Building
My name is Aliah aka “ Mina Meals " and I am the creator of Zaddy’s...
A budding deli style sandwich concept based in Atlanta. For the last year, despite the pandemic, I delivered all over Atlanta bringing deliciousness to supporters excited to get their hands on the gargantuan eats they saw on my IG profile ( @minameals_ ). One day I was craving the big “sammich” I traditionally made for family road trips. I decided to share it on social media and my dm’s were lit with offers from people sheltering in place and working from home looking for something different to order. Pulling up to customers with my trusty blue refrigerated box packed with made to order Zaddy’s and a red lipped smile on my face, it was so dope to exchange good energy in return from customers at such a dark time for our nation. Oftentimes customers would immediately open and attack their Zaddy right there, in their driveways and the parking lots in which we met. It became so much fun to capture people excitedly consuming something I'd created. Then, people started capturing themselves attacking their Zaddy! Talk about flattery! It practically sold itself!
Ok, but why “Zaddy?” ... Cause I created a big, sexy sammich worthy of its own name with #bigbreadbigmeat and stature worthy of a big appetite. If you're familiar with the term “Zaddy” then you know where I'm going with this. And it's not a misspelling when you see “sammich” written out the way my dad Sam always says it.
A few years back I decided to take a chance and bet on myself ! I left an almost twenty year career in retail management and a considerable amount of energy went into working in kitchens, food trucks and at events, exchanging my time to learn what I could with a passion for good food. The pandemic hit, and most of the restaurant industry was forced to shutdown, including the restaurant I was working. I created a small menu featuring updated versions of classic sammiches. I’d created a lunch solution big enough to last into dinner with Zaddy’s starting lineup. Promoting my creations via social media (#bigbreadbigmeat) and word of mouth alone, College Park to Alpharetta loved it! The foundation menu items represent my version of elevated comfort food in sammich form. Gourmet style options with the PMC Smoked Turkey Zaddy, featuring turkey smoked by my friend and smokemaster Pamela of Pam’s Magic Cauldron. Then there's the Cajun Lemon Pepper Tuna Zaddy & the vegan Grilled Balsamic Veggie Zaddy. As the world opened up and Atlanta traffic
returned to normal, I began searching for new ways to serve new and existing diners. Despite the increasing traffic I’d spent the last few months researching ways to make it work, cafes, delivery services, etc, and then about a month ago I was starting to consider scrapping the whole operation.
The opportunity to take things to the next level has presented itself in the form of Zaddy’s very own food stall amidst a community of chef driven vendor concepts presented at Politan Row, a food hall in Atlanta’s newly designed Colony Square. It’s the perfect place for a start up like Zaddy's considering the guidance and operations provided to assist new concepts via the Politan group. Now, although I've never run a full staff and operation of this proportion from scratch, I've a supportive network of industry professionals ready to help me make it come to life. I’ve chosen quite the challenge for myself but the money I've saved to fund my own dreams is not enough to carry me all the way, so I am seeking funds to assist in properly equipping, designing, marketing & to gainfully employ and train staff to serve excited consumers new & old ! Please help me make this dream come true! With a projected opening for September 6th, I am leaning on the faith that all I need will be provided and that everyone who can help will donate or invest in the dream of turning. something small into something bigger! Become a part of something big ... Donate to the house that Zaddy's is building!