Growing up my Mother fed us three kids (my brother Myron, Sister Rosalie and myself) a primarily vegetarian diet. She didn’t call it that at the time, she just tried to do her best with what she had.
When I was pregnant with my son Aquil, I began cooking. Being a vegan already, all of the dishes I prepared were vegan.
In June 2007, I decided to leave a promising career in the medical field for something I was more passionate about. (That something became what you now know as Souley Vegan!)
A single mother with zero savings! Of course everyone said I was crazy to pursue this. But not one to be discouraged, I began catering and selling food at local markets and events.
Fast forward two years, in 2009, I came across a vacant restaurant location at 301 Broadway in Downtown Oakland. After passing by this location a first, second, and third time, I decided to call and schedule a walk through. I barely had the gas to drive down there, but I went and attempted to portray full confidence in my ability to pay the high price the landlord was requiring upon securing the property.
