Little Liberia is an Afro-Fusion restaurant founded and owned by Ameneh Marhaba. Established in 2016, Little Liberia has since been Metro Detroit's purveyor of Liberian beverages and multicultural cuisines, an admixture of African, Caribbean, and Antebellum-South African American influences. However, Little Liberia symbolizes much more than a restaurant. Little Liberia represents a Liberian woman's arduous journey to the United States, growing and developing a business in the face of tremendous odds.
Little Liberia is community-driven and intends to be a driver of change, providing job opportunities for those like themselves and more. They are a family, and want to be a haven where all feel welcomed and valued as a part of that family.
Ameneh Marhaba was born and raised in Liberia, her mother's land. She also lived in Tripoli, Lebanon, her father's land, for a few years. Ameneh spent most of her life in Liberia with her mother and siblings. Although Ameneh's mother did not have sufficient means, her best form of currency was her passion for cooking, which is how the family managed to survive and how young Ameneh learned to cook. As a little girl, Ameneh would help with prep work and cleaning up as her mother cooked in the kitchen. At a very young age, Ameneh needed to learn how to cook to survive. Even though it started as a necessity, it developed into a passion later.
After immigrating to the United States, that passion led her to conduct her first pop-up in Detroit...
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After immigrating to the United States, that passion led her to conduct her first pop-up in Detroit...
Liberian Spring Rolls
Seafood Palm Butter
Chuck Rice Chicken Gravy
Chuck Rice Chicken Gravy
Seafood Potato Greens
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Local Liberian restaurant pop-up gets $100K from Comerica Hatch Detroit contest to open business
WXYZ | July 22, 2022
Little Liberia, an Afro-fusion pop-up restaurant in metro Detroit, is getting a $100,000 grand prize from Comerica Bank in the 2022 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest. The money will be used to open a brick-and-mortar business in Detroit. The owners were looking for a permanent space to bring Liberia’s rich multicultural cuisines to metro Detroit.
Little Liberia wins $100,000 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest powered by TechTown
Comerica Bank | July 22, 2022
Little Liberia was announced as the winner in front of a live audience at the contest’s Hatch Off event that took place Thursday, July 21 at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center in Detroit. The event functions similarly to a ‘Shark Tank’ style pitching competition where the top five businesses had the opportunity to present their business pitch to a panel of judges as well as a live audience. Public voting, along with the judges’ deliberation, determined that Little Liberia was the winner.
Get to know 2022 Hatch Detroit winner Little Liberia
TechTown Detroit | July 28, 2022
Little Liberia is an Afro-fusion pop-up restaurant owned and founded by Ameneh Marhaba. She is looking to find a permanent space to introduce Liberia’s rich multicultural cuisines to the people of Metro Detroit. They serve authentic Liberian dishes, a cuisine whose heritage is a mixture of African, Caribbean, and Antebellum-South African American influences.
Little Liberia Afro-fusion pop-up business wins $100,000 in Hatch Detroit contest
The Detroit News | July 21, 2022
Thursday night in TechTown, chef and entrepreneur Ameneh Marhaba was named the winner of $100,000 in the weeks-long Hatch Detroit contest. In an emotional, passionate pitch to a panel of judges, she told her story of recently losing her father, who brought his family to the United States from post-war Liberia for a chance at a better life.
Little Liberia pop-up restaurant wins $100,000 in Hatch Detroit contest
Detroit Free Press | July 22, 2022
Ameneh Marhaba cried tears of joy as she accepted a $100,000 check after winning a competition Thursday, where she pitched her business, Little Liberia.
Ameneh Marhaba, Little Liberia | Women’s History Month 2022
PropserUs | March 21, 2022
“My hope for the future is a brick and mortar that allows guests to come through the front doors, have a plate of food, and learn about Liberia without realizing it. There are many tribes in Liberia, and in my space, I envision having a tribal wall listing where each specific food dish comes from. As guests look at the menu while talking or waiting for their food, I hope they’re able to learn from our four walls and learn where their food came from and a bit about Liberia.”
- 10th annual Hatch Off Competition Winner
- 2021 graduate of the ProsperUs Detroit entrepreneurship program
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