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San Francisco, CA

Expanding a mission-driven bakery and restaurant to scale wholesale operations and worker ownership.

• National recognition: Featured in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, New York Times, and more.
• Award-winning leadership: Founder is a James Beard Award finalist and nationally acclaimed chef.
• Mission-driven model: Focused on worker empowerment and community resilience.
• Growth strategy: Plans to establish a flagship bakery to expand wholesale and retail operations.
• Proven adaptability: Successfully navigated challenges like the pandemic while building sustainable systems.

Reem’s California is raising funds to strengthen its role as both a nationally recognized restaurant and a community-driven enterprise. Inspired by Arab street corner bakeries, Reem’s has become more than a place to eat, serving as a space for cultural preservation, food sovereignty, and neighborhood resilience. The company intends to invest in core operations, expand apprenticeship and ownership pathways for employees, and develop a flagship bakery in Oakland. This new bakery will support wholesale, retail, and catering operations, helping Reem’s scale its consumer packaged goods strategy while deepening its community impact.

With a decade of growth from farmers market beginnings to a multi-location business, Reem’s continues to balance profitability with its mission of building generational wealth and equity for its workers. National accolades and extensive media recognition highlight both the quality of the food and the strength of its model for community empowerment. The next phase of development aims to replicate the resilience-focused structure that Reem’s has piloted, offering a roadmap for broader change in the food industry. By expanding its infrastructure and anchoring operations with a flagship location, Reem’s seeks to grow sustainably while remaining true to its mission of hospitality and justice.

Company Info

Reem’s California is a nationally acclaimed Arab bakery and restaurant that combines culinary excellence with a mission to empower workers and communities.

Reem’s California is a nationally recognized bakery and restaurant inspired by the Arab street corner bakery tradition. Founded in Oakland, the business blends Arab food and hospitality with community building, offering healthy food, living-wage jobs, and a welcoming space. It has gained recognition from major media outlets and culinary institutions, with accolades such as Food & Wine Best New Restaurant and multiple James Beard Award nominations.

Beyond serving food, Reem’s operates as a mission-driven enterprise focused on social justice and food sovereignty. The company has created apprenticeship programs to support worker ownership, particularly for marginalized communities in the restaurant industry. Its operations include restaurants, catering, wholesale, and consumer packaged goods, with plans to expand through a flagship bakery that will anchor future growth. Reem’s integrates culinary excellence with a commitment to building resilience and generational wealth for its workers and communities.