Deunte ‘Ty’ Banks and his wife Agneliz (Anna) have been dishing out vegan soul food for a couple of years. Now they have their sights set on opening a restaurant in the old Red Velvet Cafe space at 246 S. 4th St. Columbus, OH 43215.
The couple have signed a lease for the space, and are asking the community for help getting it up and running. The $50,000 ask on GoFundMe is to help them renovate the space, outfit a commercial kitchen, and cover overhead for the couple of months for the renovation.
Where it All Vegan launched on September 28, 2019, with the vision “to inspire others to eat healthier without sacrificing the foods you know and love.”
Their rotating menu includes items like Vegan Chik’n Wingz, spicy Chik’n Sandwich, BBQ Pulled Porq Sandwich, a signature cole slaw, house-made Ranch dressing, desserts, and more.
To get the business started, they did popups, preorders, and participated in vegan focused events around the city. They got their food truck going in March of 2020 after COVID-19 brought about a job loss for Ty.
You could find their food truck sometimes set up in front of Virtue Salon, It’s All Natural Temple Store, and Yelo Aple.
“We have been partnering with Where It All Vegan since November of 2020,” says Melanie Guzzo, owner of Virtue Salon. “They have been great to partner with because they are doing something epic with vegan food that isn’t happening anywhere else in Columbus.”
Virtue Salon has been hosting food trucks in front of their salon on High Street in Clintonville for awhile. Seitan’s Realm (which opened a stand alone restaurant a few blocks north of Virtue on November 6, 2021) held a weekly pop-up at Virtue Salon for over a year and had a line around the block since day one.
Guzzo hosts pop-up vendors who have a similar vision about veganism and helping people in need.
“Where It All Vegan’s views align perfectly with us at Virtue,” she says.
Help this minority-owned business take the next step in their restaurant dreams by helping them get their store-front open.
For more information about Where It All Vegan, visit vegansoul.net.
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This story was updated on February 19, 2021.
