Ali’s Chicken & Waffles, Genemo

San Diego, California

Originally from Ethiopia, Genemo and his family resettled in San Diego as refugees as a child. Despite many challenges, Genemo graduated from high school and earned a Business Administration degree from San Diego State University with a marketing focus. While studying, he worked in various roles at a Thai restaurant, starting as a dishwasher and eventually becoming a restaurant manager. This experience provided him with invaluable knowledge of the food and restaurant industry, which he gained over four years. Genemo's love for food and education motivated him to open Ali's Chicken and Waffles during the pandemic in the winter of 2020. With confidence and determination, he created a menu that caters to diverse communities.

It includes halal meat cuisine infused with fast American staples like chicken and waffles, as well as special Ethiopian spices like ding tea. Genemo aimed to cater to people within his community and beyond. He also included classic Thai dishes as a nod to his journey in the food business.

Always eager to discover opportunities to improve his business, in August 2022, Genemo enrolled in IRC’s Small Business Program. With the support of his business counselor, he received counseling on bookkeeping, staff hiring and management, and access to capital. In part because of the program’s technical support, Genemo hired three full-time staff members for his restaurant. As his business grew, he expanded into a second location in downtown San Diego. However, he needed a short-term business loan to cover payroll. Thus, with his business counselor, he applied for and received a zero-percent interest $10,000 SBA microloan from the IRC’s subsidiary bank, the Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO), in July 2023.

Over two years, Ali’s Fried Chicken and Waffles has gained a favorable reputation in San Diego. This is due to positive reviews on Yelp, recognition from the city and media, and the loyalty of their satisfied customers. Since the opening of his second location, Ali’s Fried Chicken and Waffles has already doubled its revenue. Through utilizing IRC’s small business services and sheer determination and creativity, Genemo’s business now includes two restaurants in City Heights and Downtown San Diego with 14 employees.