Brooklyn's Progress
January 2005

By Karen Young

Brooklyn Chamber Member Monroe Shannon has tried his hand at just about everything from publishing, to marketing, to fashion and entertainment.

He has performed as a cabaret singer and in off-Broadway productions. The Renaissance Man once shared the same voice coach with pop diva Beyoncé.

But after all that, he returned to his true passion – food – when he took the reigns as owner of Akwaaba Café, which means welcome in the Akan language from Ghana, West Africa.

“Food has always been a major part of my life,” said the Houston, Texas native, whose father owned a small restaurant in the Bayou City and his grandfather was a chef. 

“Growing up, food was an important part of the household, especially holidays. Now I’m bringing all my experiences together, I guess I’m like a Renaissance Man,” he explained.

About four years ago, Mr. Shannon, who had been living in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community and was a frequent diner at Akwaaba Café, connected with then owner, Monique Greenwood, to fulfill his dream – owning a restaurant.  

“Monique and I were in the subway and we started talking and found that we shared a similar vision and passion for the future of Akwaaba Café and its role in the community,” said Mr. Shannon. 

At that time Ms. Greenwood, Editor-in-Chief of Essence magazine, was transitioning out of the publishing business to focus on her budding innkeeping business with her husband, Glen Pogue. 

The restaurant and the bed-and-breakfast still maintain a relationship, since they are located within steps of each other. 

“Monique and I still have planning sessions in her kitchen while she’s cooking breakfast for the B&B guests,” Mr. Shannon said smiling.   

There was also a momentum of change taking place in the community, spearheaded by the Brooklyn Chamber’s Fulton FIRST program to provide economic revitalization along Fulton St. in targeted Brooklyn neighborhoods. 

Akwaaba Café has been making its mark not only in its local community but also in the borough.  During Brooklyn Eats 2004 the Café and six other local restaurants were christened “Brooklyn Classics” by the Brooklyn Chamber.  The group was honored for their longtime contributions to the Brooklyn economy and for participating in the annual tasting festival for five or more years.  

At Akwaaba Café Mr. Shannon is weaving together décor, flavors and music to create a unique dining experience in the historic brownstone community.  The dining room is framed by gold molding like a picture frame and the patrons and the food are the artwork. 

The menu of African-Diaspora cuisine includes the all-time favorite, Akwaaba Fried Chicken with Five Cheese Macaroni and Collard Greens; French-Mex Salmon, Sauteed Spinach, Citrus Beurre, Fried Tortillas and Salmon Caviar, to name a few. 

Akwaaba Café has developed a loyal following for its Sunday Jazz brunch.  The weekly event has become a signature event and patrons are encouraged to make reservations to ensure a seat.

Mr. Shannon sees the Café as a palette.  His job as owner is to round out the palette as well as please the palates of his patrons.  At Akwaaba everything is bought fresh from the market to the table.  Presentation and execution is done with rhythm and flavor.  Mr. Shannon does all the shopping and considers it a hand-art from the seasoning to the grill mark – everything is done with passion. 

In November 2004 Akwaaba expanded its hours and began opening for lunch.  And, the restaurant is gearing up to exhibit the work of Brooklyn artists.  During the first quarter of 2005 the work of Jean Patrick Icart-Pierre, a Haitain born artist whose works deal with the “black experience,” will be on view.
 
Mr. Shannon who also attended business school in London, sees Akwaaba Café as a theatre. 

“Every day the curtain goes up, there is wonderful music, and the audience is engaged with great food,” said Mr. Shannon who has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

And the word is getting around about his great food and cozy atmosphere.  Celebrities such as renowned education consultant Marva Collins, Rev. Al Sharpton, Motown rising R&B star KEM, trumpeter/composer Roy Hargrove and Earl Graves, founder and publisher of Black Enterprise, have made their way to his establishment. 

Akwaaba Café is located at 393 Lewis Ave. in Stuyvesant Heights at the corner of Decatur and McDonough.  The not-to-be-missed Sunday Jazz Brunch is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday.  Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dinner is served from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Akwaaba Café is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.  For more information about Akwaaba Café, contact Monroe Shannon at 718-774-1444.