“[W]e have generations of experience doing this. But now it’s about taking care of ourselves and each other.” — Mika Winder
I’m curious about how The Pearl came to learn about Ujima. What was your first point of connection to our work?
Mika Winder: When I was doing research at the beginning of our fundraising effort for The Pearl about two years ago, I came across it online, but at the time, we weren’t in a position to qualify for the alliance. But more recently, I got an email saying we have been nominated by the community [as an Ujima “Business We Love”]. So that’s how Ujima came onto our radar.
Can you share a bit about The Pearl’s location in South Bay? How does the restaurant fit into the neighborhood?
The space we ended up going with was initially awkward because it has this big pillar in the middle, and it was really raw, like dirt floor raw. So we weren’t necessarily sure how to make it work. We had the idea of having open windows so people walking back could see people in the restaurant. But in the end, it really worked out. Although we have some day-one supporters, most of the support we’ve gotten since opening is coming from the Black community in Boston at large and the South Bay community, which is really nice.
The atmosphere at The Pearl is so inclusive and really makes people feel welcome. How do you all approach hospitality?
Some of it is The Pearl’s staff being family, literally. But Luther [Pinckney] and I both have so much experience in hospitality, and Luther especially learned a lot about hospitality from his father. My family is from Alabama, and my great-grandmother was enslaved. So, as an African American community, historically, we had to provide service to people. We’re now at a point where we’ve taken what we’ve learned and turned it around, but we have generations of experience doing this. But now it’s about taking care of ourselves and each other. I have a full-time career as a mortgage broker, and there’s some caretaking in that, but hospitality really comes naturally to me.
How does being in the UGBA advance your goals as a restaurant?
So, as a mortgage business owner, I joined this community of loan officers of color because there is so much power in numbers. I really like being part of an alliance in all parts of my life. I’m hopeful that we can figure out how to support each other in the UGBA and band together to accomplish things. There are also issues that feel unique to our businesses, and there’s some vulnerability in asking for help. So it’s nice to have a community of people to approach these challenges without judgment.
What is your favorite item on the menu?
My favorite item on the menu is my mom’s seafood Newburg; it’s on the brunch menu. It’s been a favorite in my family for years. We eat it for Thanksgiving, and people come from far and wide after their main dinner just for a taste of the Newburg.
What is The Pearl team looking forward to this year?
We’re looking forward to our two-year anniversary this May. After the first year in operation, we’ve really tightened things up, so things are falling into place. So I’m looking forward to our staff continuing to step up to the plate. We’re a lot more on top of things now, and the calendar is filling up with exciting events. Also, we’re finalizing our plans for a second location in the Boston Landing area, which will be a slightly bigger operation with more catering capacity.
The Pearl at South Bay, is a contemporary seafood grill and raw bar on District Avenue at South Bay. They are committed to a high quality culinary experience and serve handmade cocktails from a patio-accessible bar. District Avenue is a one-minute walk from the Newmarket T station and a two-minute bus ride from Andrew. Owned and operated by Roxbury natives, hiring local, buying local, and serving local is baked into their DNA.
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INVESTMENT PIPELINE
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FINANCIAL DASHBOARD
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INVESTMENT PIPELINE
Visit our Investment Pipeline Status page to
track the progress of Ujima’s investment plans, lists, and votes.
FINANCIAL DASHBOARD
For additional updates and information on the Ujima Fund, visit our Financial Dashboard.
DONATE
Donate to Ujima’s general operations.