Supporting Black and Brown owned businesses to survive and thrive during COVID

March 2021

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation

45 Stories for 45 Years

Contributor: Rana Halpern and Emanne Desouky, Owners of Super Juiced

Like many other Black and Brown owned small businesses, the owners and the staff at Super Juiced work hard every month just to stay afloat. So when COVID-19 hit, and with it, shelter in place orders, we were struggling to remain in business. 

We have been inspired by how our community stepped up to care for and nurture each other — and for us — during these challenging times. That community includes East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, our landlord at our original Swan’s Market location.

Super Juiced has been really fortunate to be a part of EBALDC’s COVID-19 Commercial Tenant Relief Program, and to work with staff including Kuldeep Birdi, to get support to help us stay afloat during the pandemic, and to strengthen our business in the long run. Not only did we get some grant money for the PPE items that we needed, but we also got help developing our rapid response program, to boost delicious, nutrition-dense foods to the communities that needed it the most, like frontline workers and our friends and family in Fruitvale. 

Good Good Eatz, also with EBALDC’s support, has been amazing for us as well in working with us on a marketing plan to get out the message of what Super Juiced is doing in the face of COVID to sustain ourselves and our community. We are learning how to paint the picture behind Super Juiced — who our owners are, what our backgrounds are, and how we’ve built connections across the Bay Area over time. We’ve never had the resources or the time to do that. 

We are so grateful to be part of this compassionate and resilient community committed to the health, well-being and safety of our people. 

As EBALDC marks our 45th anniversary, we will be gathering more stories like this one from our friends, family, community members, partners and more stakeholders that have made our impact possible. We would be honored for you to join us:

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