Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 24, 2021

Uber Eats Announces New DC Dining Experience to Promote Local Black Restaurant Owners and Chefs

Uber Eats, Sandlot Southeast, EatOkra, Suite Nation, and &Access partner to highlight DC’s emerging and established Black restaurant owners and chefs.

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Uber Eats announced its partnership with Sandlot Southeast to showcase and celebrate local Black-owned restaurants and chefs in collaboration with EatOkra, Suite Nation, and &Access. Beginning March 18th and running Thursdays-Sundays until the end of the year, Black-owned restaurants, chefs, caterers, and food truck operators in DC will be featured at Sandlot Southeast and available on the Uber Eats app.

“Uber is committed to supporting Black restaurant owners and chefs in DC, and across the country,” said Michele Blackwell, a spokesperson for Uber. “We’re excited to partner with organizations that share our values and that are creating spaces to uplift restaurants that are at the core of DC’s communities. This work has always been important, but it is especially critical now as the restaurant community recovers from economic setbacks caused by pandemic-related restaurant closures. We are proud to use the Uber Eats’ platform to support local, DC-based restaurants and the contributions of Black-owned restaurants.”

“This partnership amplifies the authenticity of a culinary eco-system of culture, community & commerce, created by people of color. That rarity makes this program extremely necessary and appreciated,” said Ian Callender, Owner of Suite Nation & Co-Owner of Sandlot Southeast. “Being just 1 of 6 Black-owned businesses in the Capitol Riverfront, Navy Yard neighborhood out of 115, we entered the market as a double minority, but with the Uber Eats alignment, we can introduce multiple Black-owned restaurants, food trucks and businesses to a neighborhood that lacks diversity, exponentially.”

The collaborative in DC is a continuation of the Uber Eats and EatOkra series that debuted in December in Harlem, NY with The Renaissance Pavilion at Strivers Row. Last year, Uber Eats also waived delivery fees for customers ordering from Black-owned restaurants in DC and saw deliveries from those restaurants rise.

“Sandlot’s leadership to amplify Black-owned restaurants combined with its locations in historically significant neighborhoods in DC made it a natural partner for this initiative,” Blackwell added.

“This new partnership between Uber Eats and Sandlot Southeast is the type of intentional and targeted support for Black entrepreneurs that we need to see more often,” Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (Ward 5), chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development. “I applaud this new effort to highlight Black-owned businesses and as we continue to work with all stakeholders to achieve racial equity and build a more inclusive economy.”

“We are excited that Sandlot Southeast will provide an incubator platform for Black chefs to build an audience in Capitol Riverfront and hope that this will be a springboard for many of them to find permanent locations in our neighborhood.” Michael Stevens, President of the Capitol Riverfront BID.

“Our industry is encouraged to see that our elected officials, business leaders and community organizations are creating platforms for Black and Minority-Owned restaurants, and are working together to do the important work to make change. We look forward to helping move this priority along as it has been and remains a very intentional area of our work at RAMW, with our Board of Directors, and across our membership community.” Kathy E. Hollinger, President and CEO, Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.

Sandlot Southeast and Uber Eats encourages interested Black-owned restaurants to apply at https://www.sandlotdc.com/uber-eats-registration

About Sandlot Southeast

Sandlot Southeast launched its first concept in 2019 as Sandlot Southwest, when two DC natives - including the owner of Suite Nation - set out to transform an undeveloped area in Buzzard Point, Southwest, DC into an open air event space and hybrid destination for local residents and the general public to enjoy food and & beverage and experience live music, arts & culture and more. In June 2020, Sandlot Southwest closed indefinitely due to COVID-19 & redevelopment but was able to relocate across South Capitol Street in partnership with MRP Realty at Potomac Avenue SE. Sandlot reopened in October 2020 as Sandlot Southeast and now operates at the entry of the Capitol Riverfront/Navy Yard/Buzzard Point neighborhood.

About EatOkra

EatOkra was founded by husband and wife Anthony Edwards, Jr (CEO) and Janique Edwards (COO) in Brooklyn, NY as a comprehensive, user-friendly Black-owned business directory app that makes Black food and beverage the focal point. EatOkra’s mission is to provide a food-themed directory that encourages fellowship through one specific avenue, Black food.

Since their 2016 debut, EatOkra has welcomed 300,000+ users; features 5,700+ Black-owned restaurants, bakeries, cafes, food trucks, bars and wineries across the U.S. are featured on the app and have been featured in the following media outlets: CuisineNoir, Forbes, NBC New York, People, Thrillist, and more.

About Suite Nation

Suite Nation is a minority CBE certified event design firm that builds creative non-traditional spaces in partnership with real estate developers and landowners along with corporate brands and strategic partners. Suite Nation has been successful in reclaiming vacant, blighted and dilapidated spaces with the intent of beautifying them for the benefit of the community for over 10 years.

About &Access

&Access is a retail consultancy focused on creating equitable opportunities for commonly underserved entrepreneurial and geographic communities. Retail that reaches people is our mantra and we support this through services designed to strengthen, attract, and grow retailers. We seek to better meet market demand in neighborhoods and to tell retail stories through data. We also offer training and programming to support business preservation and growth goals.

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