UPTOWN — A year-and-a-half after the closure of Selam Market, the go-to spot for Ethiopian foods is ready to return to neighborhood with a few new amenities, its owner said.
Since the closure, Solomon Abebe has been focusing on the expansion to its new location at 4543 N. Broadway, he said.
"The old place was mainly a butcher shop, but this is a bar and restaurant, plus the butcher shop in a bigger place," said Abebe.
Selam Market and Restaurant will host a grand opening Jan. 14, he said.
In June 2015, Selam Market closed at 5012 N. Sheridan Road after about seven years of business. Ever since, its former customers have struggled to find suitable duplicates of its bread, he said.
"We have the best Injera in North America. People stopped eating it when we closed," Abebe said.
Injera is a traditional Ethiopian bread made with teff flour. The flatbread is full of "iron and many nutrients," he said. "My wife makes it every day here fresh."
Customers can expect it to carry similar items as the old location such as: beef, lamb, chicken, eggs, Ethiopian coffee beans, teff flour, spice and other culinary treasures, he said.
All dishes are prepared with "distinctive flavor of unique spices for poultry, beef and lamb dishes," according to its website.
The new place is styled after "American restaurants" with booth seating, tables and seating at the full bar. The restaurant can hold about 100 people.
"There's no restaurant around here that looks like an American bar, but serves Ethiopian dishes," said Abebe.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
[DNAinfo/Josh McGhee]
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