Sustainable Vegan Cafe d'griot Fosters Community in Germantown
This Black-Owned Café in Germantown Promotes Sustainability and Community Blew Kind, the visionary behind d’griot in Germantown’s Maplewood Mall, is committed to fostering community while guiding others toward entrepreneurship. A prominent Philadel...
Black News 
This Black-Owned Café in Germantown Promotes Sustainability and Community
Blew Kind, the visionary behind d’griot in Germantown’s Maplewood Mall, is committed to fostering community while guiding others toward entrepreneurship. A prominent Philadelphia entrepreneur, Kind’s passion for building intentional spaces is reflected across her ventures.
Her latest concept, d’griot, builds on the legacy of her previous café, Franny Lou’s Porch in East Kensington. While Franny Lou’s Porch became a gathering place for activists, artists, and neighbors, d’griot offers a renewed and evolving vision.
Located in Maplewood Mall—an area with more than sixty years of Black entrepreneurial history—Kind continues to contribute to a longstanding cultural and economic legacy.
Intentional Food and Experience
At d’griot, the menu reflects a commitment to health, sustainability, and consistency.
“Everything is vegan or vegetarian and nutrient-dense—we’re intentional about what goes into it and how it’s prepared,” Kind said. “We cook with steel and cast iron, use oils that withstand high temperatures, and focus on food that’s nutritionally sound and feels like home. That same consistency carries over to the products we stock. Customers can expect quality every time.”
Rooted in Culture
The café’s name carries cultural significance. “Griot” refers to a West African storyteller, while the “d” reflects African American Vernacular English, where it often replaces “the.”
This blend of tradition and contemporary identity is central to Kind’s vision—creating a space that nourishes both body and culture.
Building Beyond the Business
Kind’s work extends beyond food service. She is deeply committed to mentoring future entrepreneurs and cultivating leadership within her community.
Through d’griot, she continues to create a space that not only serves food but also fosters connection, creativity, and opportunity.
Learn more about Blew Kind and the inspiration behind d’griot at Green Philly.
