Mama Bond’s Soul Meals Kitchen debuts in downtown Muncie
MUNCIE, Ind. — Back again in March, during the starting of the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrea Venable-Bond was trying to imagine of new methods to start out a business.
The 41-year-outdated mother of four was previously a little business owner of Charisma Cleansing, but she wanted one thing extra. At very first, she started venturing into the world of daycares, having classes and earning certificates.
Soon after a discussion with her father, she realized that may possibly be far too difficult all through a pandemic. Venable-Bond ongoing discovering extra strategies in April, and although she experienced the signifies to start out a 2nd organization, she preferred to prevent taking out a mortgage.
“I wanted to make careers. I’m a offering individual, so I really don’t like to see men and women battle,” Venable-Bond mentioned. “I know how it feels to wrestle, for the reason that I was a solitary father or mother prior to I was married, so I have an understanding of the struggle.”
How the soul food items cafe bought its title
In mid-April, the plan of a soul meals cafe popped into her head, and from there, she designed a listing of what she would have to have to place her plan into motion.
Initial, she wanted a chef, so she commenced investigating who may well be a very good cook dinner in Muncie, whether or not it be just at property or a facet-business enterprise. Her beautician advised Sonya Hawkins.
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Hawkins’ mom, Minnie, was effectively-acknowledged in the community for cooking at the Major Wheel and 12th Road Cafe. As a youngster, Hawkins viewed and assisted her mother prepare food stuff, and when she bought older, she started cooking for friends and relatives gatherings and shared her recipes on social media platforms.
When she and Venable-Bond connected, the desire of proudly owning a restaurant became a fact. They secured a downtown site in Suite 100, 125 E. Charles St., but the eatery however wanted a identify.
Just one working day, her husband’s mother popped into her head, and she made a decision to phone the cafe Mama Bond’s Soul Food stuff Kitchen.
Venable-Bond claimed she and her sister-in-law were being questioning what her late mom-in-legislation, “Mama” Regina Bond, would say about the cafe.
“We just mentioned we assume she’d just be grinning, wouldn’t quit grinning,” Venable-Bond stated. “‘You guys did this for me?’ She would be quite fired up, happy, that we would do this in her honor.”
What’s on the menu at Mama Bond’s?
Mama Bond’s held its grand opening on Friday, Nov. 13, and though it was supposed to be for good friends and family, Venable-Bond explained they had been slammed.
Phones had been ringing off the hook, even the working day in advance of, and there was a line for dine-in, carry-out and the restaurant’s curbside provider. Functions became less complicated on Saturday and Sunday, with the hold out down to 3-5 minutes, Venable-Bond said.
“I watched and shifted folks all over to make the operation go improved, and it was a accomplishment,” Venable-Bond claimed. “(Sunday) was a success. From this position on, I’m hunting for nothing but accomplishment, no a lot more waits and everyone is happy.”
Irrespective of what is ordered, foods are $15 across the board. On Tuesdays, Mama Bond’s will have “Downtown Tuesdays,” which has a reduced selling price of $10. Commonly, each individual working day of the 7 days has two available entrees, with distinct sides like a cornbread muffin, mac and cheese or eco-friendly beans. The entrees involve:
- Monday: Slices of Meatloaf or Southern Fried whole Rooster Wings
- Tuesday: Beef Steak Hoagie with mozzarella cheese, onions, eco-friendly peppers, mushrooms, mayo, lettuce, tomato and fries.
- Wednesday: Southern Entire Fried Rooster Wings with a variety of sides
- Thursday: Southern Pig Ft or Southern Fried Rooster Wings
- Friday: Southern Fried Whiting Fish or Southern Fried Catfish
- Saturday: Southern BBQ Leg Quarter or Southern Fried Chicken
- Sunday: Southern Smothered Pork Chops or Southern Fried Wings
‘We want to retain bringing soul food to Muncie’
Even though the pandemic has designed some worries, Venable-Bond is striving to hold small business as standard, but she’s also made the carry-out possibility a lot easier by packaging all foods in a to-go vogue. And until there is one more condition-mandated shut-down, dine-in will be obtainable.
“I know the pandemic is out there,” Venable-Bond reported. “I’m just likely to maintain the faith, you know, that we’ll just make it.”
Mama Bond’s also has turn into a household affair for her youngsters, with her next-oldest daughter, Teanna, coming home from Purdue University to aid out with the grand opening.
Venable-Bond claimed she’s devoted herself to the first 30 times of getting open to aid get the job done out any kinks. After her team is prepared, she’ll scale back again her time in the cafe to spend time with her loved ones.
Having one of the couple organizations owned by a black woman in Muncie has also occur with its individual problems, one thing she realized before when opening Charisma Cleaning. In excess of the weekend, she saw a couple Facebook feedback complaining about the hold out, and some appeared racist, Venable-Bond explained.
“I attempt to overlook that things and go on, but often it’s difficult,” Venable-Bond explained. “Often you don’t get the company that you believe you need to simply because you’re African American.”
You can find no complaining when waiting for a desk at chains like Texas Roadhouse, Applebees, Chili’s, Purple Lobster or Olive Backyard garden, Venable-Bond said. She hopes the community will give Mama Bond’s a possibility now that very first-day kinks are labored out.
Her biggest objective is to make the cafe a warm and welcoming area for all, where by everyone feels comfortable eating.
“I hope we can continue to be close to. I hope everybody will however assistance us. We will get far better, we will add different entrees to the menu and to ideally be all around for a pair more a long time, if not indefinitely,” Venable Bond stated. “We want to maintain it in this article. We want to preserve bringing soul food to Muncie.”
Mama Bond’s Soul Food items Kitchen area is open noon-6 p.m., Monday by means of Sunday. A whole menu can be seen at mamabondssoulfood.com.
Charlotte Stefanski is a reporter at The Star Press. Contact her at 765-283-5543, [email protected] or adhere to her on Twitter @CharStefanski.
