Black Power Blueprint
Uhuru Bakery & Cafe
APEDF Partnering with Uhuru Foods & Pies and the African Independence Workforce Program (AIWP)
3719 W. Florissant &
3723 Goodfellow.
African People’s Education & Defense Fund purchased this former restaurant in January 2024. We are partnering with the Uhuru Foods & Pies and the African Independence Workforce Program to bring delicious homestyle food, pies to the neighborhood and to bring jobs back to our community!
Our goal is to create an uplifting community gathering place and cultural hub where we can meet, celebrate our community and eat great food together.
We will provide:
- Healthy Food
- Jobs & Training
- Fresh herbs, vegetables and fruit from another of our Black Power Community Gardens
- Cook-outs with local chefs
- An anchor to grow new businesses and economic self-reliance
This Bakery & Cafe is part of the revitalization of the devastated W. Florissant Corridor bringing life back to a once bustling black community business district.
Uhuru Foods & Pies has over 40 years experience providing delicious food at markets, fairs and festivals.
- Baking 1,000 Sweet Potato Pies for Stephen Curry’s “Christmans with the Currys” 2020
- Collaborations with breweries, cafes and grocery stores.
- “Uhuru Means Freedom” a beer named after Uhuru Pies
- Baking and popup sales of Holiday pies since 1981
Opening the W Florissant Uhuru Bakery & Cafe is the first step to opening the premier Uhuru Bakery & Cafe on Goodfellow Ave. We want everyone in St. Louis to know how good the food and service will be and create destination locations serving delicious African food and creating jobs for our community.
Case Study
Case Study
Located in an art deco building that had once been a boat dealership, the Uhuru Jiko is our
most ambitious project yet, to bring African economic and cultural life to this depressed
commercial area, stop gentrification and to build a critical program for our community.
Black Power Blueprint will build a bakery, café, and community commercial kitchen to serve as
the headquarters for Uhuru Foods & Pies, one of the many economic institutions of Black Star
Industries and the African People’s Education and Defense Fund around the U.S.
The large plot of land behind the building will be transformed into another outdoor venue for
events and culture, with seating and an herb garden to supply the café and to sell.
Black Power Blueprint is working on development and funding to make Uhuru Jiko the home of
the African Independence Workforce Program, providing food business skills, work experience,
housing and services for previously incarcerated men and women from our community.
Project work:
- Purchased 5,000 square foot building with 13,000 square foot land and secured
landscape architectural plans - Build out a full commercial kitchen, café, and training facility with complete
architectural plans and engineering - Purchase bakery café equipment
- Build outdoor venue with stage, walkways, plants and trees, herb garden and
café seating area
Locations
3723 Goodfellow.
Cost
$1,200,000
Status
In Progress
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