Three second-generation immigrants are creating Portland’s first coffee shop above a sneaker store in the Old Town neighborhood.
Ahlam Osman, only 22-years-old is already a co-owner of Portland’s first Somali-owned coffee shop, Above Grnd. Growing up in the Rose City, she always loved witnessing how people’s moods were lifted by the energy cultivated in a coffee house.
When her friend started working with a popular sneaker store that had open space, she knew it was time to seize the opportunity.
“I come from a big family. I have a lot of nieces and nephews,” said Osman. “Many coffee shops here in Portland tend to be small and not as family-friendly.”
Osman, born and raised in Portland hails from a Somali family of 10. Her friend and co-owner of Above Grnd, Mehamed Ali was always a sneaker enthusiast, working closely with the owners of a sneaker store off Northwest Flanders and Broadway called Bridge City Soles.
The store had a vacant second floor and the friends immediately recognized its potential.
“He [Mehamed ] loved the idea of sneakers and coffee,” said Osman. “The concept of having a lounge area above a sneaker store resonated with us.”
Ali, Osman, and her brother Abdulrahim Osman — all in their 20s with no formal education in business, embarked on this venture back in the Fall. The trio recently had a grand opening for the coffee house in April.
The menu pays homage to their East African heritage featuring banana and date lattes, with spices infused into the drinks.
“As Somalis, bananas are a staple in our diet,” said Ahlam Osman. “We consume them with our rice, pasta, and use various spices — like cardamom, cinnamon for flavor and health benefits.”
Despite being only a month since the grand opening, they've already established a community here in Portland's Old Town. The trio is dedicated to making the space welcoming, whether through board games or by inviting artists to collaborate.
“We want customers to feel free to buy a cup of coffee and express themselves,” said Al. “Whether it’s creating art, studying, having conversations, or simply getting to know one another — our space is open to all."