Nurah Ikpeama wants to revolutionize the way people shop for plant-based foods and products.
On the path to doing so, she’s taken an important next step. This Saturday, Aug. 25, Ikpeama is celebrating the grand opening of Electric Plate Vegan Shop, a multi-purpose space in the Crown Pointe Plaza building in Oak Park.
Electric Plate Vegan Shop is a vegan grocery boutique. The store will feature a mix of prepared foods and groceries--all vegan. Caffeine-free coffee is on the menu. Ikpeama will also host monthly forums on the plant-based lifestyle.
She’s also planning a vegan fest for later in the fall.
"For those of us living the plant-based lifestyle, we usually have to go to stores that aren’t dedicated to being vegan," Ikpeama says.
"Places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s might have vegan sections, but you still have to walk through the meat section. I don’t like that mix."
Ikpeama’s path to Electric Plate Vegan Shop began in 2015, when she transitioned from what she calls being a "dirty vegan" to a "clean vegan," a difference she explains as when she took plant-based cooking more seriously and stopped eating things like mass-produced cookies.
She began sharing her plant-based recipes on social media. Interest was so high that places around Detroit began inviting her to throw pop-up kitchen events. People then began to ask when she would have a permanent place of her own.
Electric Plate Vegan Shop is that place. Located on the third floor of the Crown Pointe building, Ikpeama says she chose the location because Oak Park is equally accessible from both the east and west sides.
Though not a full-service restaurant, Electric Plate will sell Ikpeama’s ready-made dishes. Most items, like her tacos and quinoa burgers, are served raw and don’t require ovens. The shop will also feature a variety of vegan-friendly groceries.
A grand opening celebration is being held this Saturday, Aug. 25. Featuring music, artists, jewelry, and more, the event is free and open to the public.
Electric Plate Vegan Shop is located on the third floor of 25900 Greenfield Rd. in Oak Park.
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