Afro Deli Owner to Open Upscale Mpls Restaurant

Abdirahman Kahin, recognized as the 2023 National Small Business Person of the Year, is the visionary behind the new restaurant. An immigrant from Somalia who arrived in the U.S. in 1996, Kahin transitioned from media production to the food industry, opening the first Afro Deli in 2010 with the goal of making African cuisine more accessible. The new venture is managed by Kahin's Martisoor Hospitality Group, a name rooted in the Somali language, where "Martisoor" translates to "a great hospitality." This signals a broader ambition beyond the fast-casual model, with plans that include full-service restaurants and event venues like Azure Gardens and Azure Space. Martiya represents a significant step into upscale dining for Kahin, diverging from the fast-casual format of his popular Afro Deli locations. The restaurant will feature a full-service, sit-down model centered around Somali-fusion cuisine, aiming to elevate the dining experience of East African food in the Twin Cities. The restaurant will be located in a new apartment building at Nicollet and 31st, on the site of a former Wells Fargo that was burned down during the 2020 protests. This places Martiya at the heart of the "New Nicollet Redevelopment" project, a major city initiative to revitalize the area and reconnect the street grid after the demolition of a long-controversial Kmart building.