Little Saigon Welcomes New African Diaspora Businesses

New Businesses Bring Central African and Ethiopian Culture to Little Saigon

Africanita Market and Conspagna Ethiopian Restaurant recently opened their doors in Seattle’s Little Saigon neighborhood, establishing locations on Jackson Street. Both businesses expressed excitement about securing their spots after an extensive search.

Africanita Market

Africanita Market offers a diverse selection of essential products and food originating from Central Africa. The market features personal care products, cacao butter lotions, aromatic spices, dried fish, and more. Gabriella, supporting co-owner Laurinda Madilo Andre, highlighted the market’s unique offerings, noting the availability of products not seen in the area for years, sourced directly from Angola and the Congo. The business aims to celebrate community and culture within the historically diverse neighborhood.

Conspagna Ethiopian Restaurant

Conspagna serves traditional Ethiopian cuisine, featuring flavorful meat and vegetable dishes and the renowned Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Patrons have praised the restaurant’s authentic flavors, noting that the tibs (beef or lamb cooked in butter and spices) and doro wat (chicken stew) taste like those found in Ethiopia. The restaurant also hosts music nights featuring local and national artists.

Community Impact and Demographics

Andy Pham, Community Engagement Manager at Friends of Little Saigon, emphasized the positive impact of the new businesses, noting the blending of communities reminiscent of the historic Black and Tan Club. Data indicates that East Africans, including Ethiopians and Eritreans, comprise a significant portion of King County’s African population, with approximately 40,000 residents.

Challenges and Future Plans

Both businesses face challenges, including shoplifting at Africanita and break-in and parking concerns at Conspagna. Africanita hopes to improve security, while Conspagna is seeking a loading zone from the City of Seattle to address parking issues. Despite these challenges, both businesses are experiencing strong community support and positive reviews, with Conspagna attracting customers specifically for its highly-rated food and cultural atmosphere.