Father and son pitch West African restaurant for Bloomington competition
Shaban Laban and his mother Raya Laban presented their vision for Nuna West African Cuisine to the Bloomington City Council on July 24, pitching the restaurant as a way to better reflect the city's cultural diversity and strengthen community connections.
The Labans outlined their proposal for Nuna, a new West African restaurant concept they hope to establish in Bloomington as part of the Hatch Bloomington competition. The pitch was not a legislative vote but rather a presentation of their business concept to city officials.
Raya Laban, who immigrated to the United States two decades ago from Togo, learned to cook West African cuisine from her grandmother. The restaurant would serve authentic dishes including fried plantains, jalaf rice, and Goosey soup. The Labans emphasized that Nuna would do more than serve food—it would act as a cultural bridge within the community.
The things that we have in the city do not accurately reflect that and we want to start changing that little by little and we're going to start by using this restaurant to do so," Shaban Laban told the council. He added that the restaurant "would be a way for you to further understand the different cultures we have in this city and further connect us on a deeper level.
The presentation highlighted how the restaurant could serve dual purposes: introducing Bloomington residents to authentic West African cuisine while also addressing gaps in cultural representation. The Labans framed their business venture as an opportunity for economic development that would simultaneously enrich the community culturally.
The Hatch Bloomington competition supports new business concepts in the city. While no formal council vote was recorded on this presentation, the pitch represents one of the competition entries being considered by city leadership.
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Pitch for Nuna West African Cuisine at Hatch Bloomington Competition
Shaban Laban, accompanied by his mother Raya Laban, outlined their proposal for Nuna West African Cuisine, a new restaurant concept for Bloomington. They detailed their culinary offerings, including W fried plantains, jalaf rice, and Goosey soup, and underscored the restaurant's role in enhancing cultural representation and promoting community connection within Bloomington.
Notable Quotes (2)
the things that we have in the city do not accurately reflect that and we want to start changing that little by little and we're going to start by using this restaurant to do so
it would be a way for you to further understand the different cultures we have in this city and further connect us on a deeper level
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