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Washington, DC

Establishing a Caribbean vegan café with a shared-use kitchen and pop-up venue to expand dining options and support food entrepreneurs.

• First Caribbean vegan and soy-free restaurant in Washington, D.C.
• Multi-use model combining café, shared commercial kitchen, and pop-up venue.
• Culturally authentic menu rooted in Jamaican heritage.
• Focus on community development and support for emerging food entrepreneurs.
• Infrastructure upgrades to improve efficiency, menu diversity, and customer experience.

Sweet Sosumba Vegan Café is a Caribbean-inspired plant-based food venture serving the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. Originally opened in 2018 as the first Caribbean vegan and soy-free restaurant in D.C., it built a loyal following with dishes like jerk “chick’n,” coconut curried chickpeas, and fried sweet plantains. Following building-related safety issues and the pandemic’s impact, the business shifted to a shared-use kitchen model, continuing to serve its community while lowering overhead. Now, Sweet Sosumba is relaunching in a new space, combining a vegan café with a shared-use commercial kitchen and pop-up venue to meet the growing demand for healthy, culturally authentic dining and affordable culinary workspace.

Funds from this raise will support the purchase of commercial-grade appliances, modular kitchen stations, and infrastructure upgrades for multi-user operations, as well as improvements to seating, lighting, and layout. These investments will enhance efficiency, expand the menu, and improve the customer experience. By offering both innovative Caribbean vegan cuisine and resources for aspiring food entrepreneurs, Sweet Sosumba aims to create a vibrant, community-focused culinary hub that strengthens local food systems and supports long-term economic growth in the DMV area.

Company Info

Sweet Sosumba Vegan Café serves Caribbean-inspired vegan cuisine and operates a shared-use kitchen to support local food entrepreneurs in the DMV region.

Sweet Sosumba Vegan Café is a Caribbean-inspired plant-based culinary venture serving the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. Founded in 2018, the business offers a menu of soy-free vegan dishes rooted in authentic Jamaican flavors, such as jerk “chick’n,” coconut curried chickpeas, fried sweet plantains, and freshly prepared beverages like pineapple ginger juice. Initially operating from a brick-and-mortar location, Sweet Sosumba built a loyal customer base through its focus on nutritious, culturally authentic meals and its warm, community-oriented atmosphere. After closing its original space due to structural issues and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business transitioned to a shared-use commercial kitchen model, enabling it to continue serving customers while reducing overhead costs.

Today, Sweet Sosumba is working to establish a new café location that will combine plant-based dining with a shared-use commercial kitchen and pop-up space for other culinary entrepreneurs. This model is designed to maximize revenue streams while supporting local food businesses with affordable, fully equipped facilities. The café plans to invest in commercial-grade appliances, infrastructure upgrades, and customer-focused improvements to expand its offerings and enhance the dining experience. By meeting the growing demand for healthy, plant-based meals and providing vital resources for emerging food businesses, Sweet Sosumba seeks to foster innovation, collaboration, and economic growth in the DMV culinary scene.