The honor was bestowed by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Illinois District Office and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Champaign County EDC as part of the celebration of National Small Business Week.
From the press release:
The Best of Africa’s Food Store, co-owned by Congolese immigrants Memoire Budimbu Mabiza and Lisette Mbaki, is the first of its kind in Champaign County and offers a wide variety of African products, including grocery items, hygiene products, kitchen supplies, and traditional African clothing. Since opening for business in 2015, the business has expanded twice. The most recent expansion – completed earlier this year – included the addition of a new event space. They are also now selling beer and wine.
Read Megan Flowers’ article about the store from a few years back. The store is located at 208 W. Griggs in Urbana.
Photo from Best of Africa’s Facebook page.