Waka Restaurant Opens New Storefront in Eastern Market
Owners of the East African concept transition from a four-year mobile operation to a permanent Detroit market location.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere, the owners behind Baobab Fare, opened their Waka restaurant in Detroit's Eastern Market on September 26, 2026. The new brick-and-mortar storefront replaces a location formerly occupied by Russell Street Deli for 30 years.
Why it matters
The expansion demonstrates a strategic shift from food truck operations to long-term commercial real estate investment in high-traffic market districts. The owners are scaling their brand while simultaneously breaking ground on a second Baobab Fare site to capture neighborhood demand.
The transition replaces the 30-year operation of the Russell Street Deli with Waka, which spent 4 years as a food truck before opening this storefront. The owners maintain a portfolio growth strategy highlighted by their 2024 James Beard Award finalist recognition.
The players
Hamissi Mamba
A co-owner and restaurateur recognized as a 2024 James Beard Award finalist.
Nadia Nijimbere
A co-owner and restaurateur recognized as a 2024 James Beard Award finalist.
Baobab Fare
A growing hospitality entity scaling East African dining across Detroit neighborhoods.
Waka
A quick-service concept that transitioned from a four-year mobile truck operation to a brick-and-mortar location.
The details
Waka scales its East African street food menu—featuring chapatis, brochettes, and sambusas—by utilizing a permanent kitchen to serve higher capacity than the mobile truck allowed. The interior design anchors the brand in the historic market by incorporating a mural based on the original truck. The owners have simultaneously committed to a capital-intensive expansion project, breaking ground on a new East Warren corridor location one month after the Eastern Market debut.
Timeline
2024: Owners announced plans for the Waka Eastern Market storefront.
September 26, 2026: Waka opened its permanent restaurant in Eastern Market.
October 27, 2026: Baobab Fare broke ground on the East Warren location.
Market Landscape
The expansion follows the industry validation provided by the 2024 James Beard Awards, which signaled increased commercial viability for local operators. The owners move to capture market share in high-traffic districts, a common evolution for successful neighborhood-based food startups.
Operators scaling from mobile to fixed locations should note the shift in overhead and long-term lease commitments required for market-district sites. Monitoring capital deployment across multiple sites is essential as owners manage simultaneous transition and construction phases.
The takeaway
Successful scaling often requires blending high-visibility market presence with neighborhood-focused growth. Operators should track the multi-site management techniques of peer businesses that balance established urban hubs with emerging commercial corridors.
What happens next
Construction on the new East Warren location of Baobab Fare is expected to proceed following the October 27, 2026 ground breaking.
Further reading
For more updates on the city's commercial landscape, read the Detroit Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Detroit Free Press.
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