07/21/2024
Sue Donoghue
Commissioner, NYC Parks
www.nyc.gov/parks
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONTH XX, 2024
No. XX
NYC PARKS WELCOMES A NEW CONCESSION TO DAG HAMMASRSKJOLD PLAZA
Oasis Jimma Juice Bar features a vast smoothie menu, breakfast, lunch and dinner options including Ethiopian specialties.
NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue today joined Chief Business Diversity Officer of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Michael Garner, Founder of Oasis Jimma Juice Bar Abdi Abajebel, and community members to cut the ribbon on the Oasis Jimma Juice Bar, a new concession at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.
“A concession like Oasis Jimma Juice Bar isn't just about food; it's about nurturing our parks and the health of New Yorkers. By bringing culturally rich and health-conscious offerings to our parks, it fosters a sense of community and belonging," said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. "It encourages park patrons to explore new flavors and adopt healthier lifestyles, while also supporting local businesses and promoting economic vitality within our neighborhoods. In this way, Oasis Jimma Juice Bar embodies the spirit of diversity, wellness, and community that defines New York City.”
MICHAEL GARNER QUOTE
ABDI QUOTE
Oasis Jimma Juice Bar will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner options including some Ethiopian specialties like sambusa. The menu will also include a variety of smoothie options, which are crafted in-house with whole fruits and vegetables. Additionally, Oasis offers health shots including wheat grass, ginger, lemon, and other specialty blends.
Oasis Jimma Juice Bar was initially founded in 2012 in Harlem at 125th and Broadway by Abdi Abajebel..
Abdi Abajebel grew up on his family's farm in Jimma, the birthplace of coffee and the second-largest city in Ethiopia. The son of a prominent healer, he learned from his father how to use herbs for homeopathic treatments. When the civil war reached Jimma, Abdi escaped and lived in a refugee camp in Nairobi, Kenya, where he made a living selling fresh fruit.
Abdi was granted asylum and settled in Harlem, New York City, where he discovered high rates of obesity and diabetes. A diabetic himself, Abdi knew how a healthy diet can do more to prevent and fend off illness than any amount of pills you can take. He was inspired to provide healthy, fresh, affordable food for his Harlem neighbors, and to teach them that food can be the most powerful medicine.
That’s when Oasis Jimma Juice Bar was born. Since then, Abdi has appeared in several newspapers and television news shows, won awards, catered successful events at Columbia University, Riverside Church, and health fairs, led demos on healthy lifestyles at NY Fashion Week and offered free nutrition classes in food deserts throughout New York City.
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza will be Oasis Jimma Juice Bar’s second location and first in a New York City park.
Oasis Jimma Juice Bar at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza will operate Monday – Sunday, 7:00am–9:00pm. A preview of the menu can be found here.
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Press Contact:
Kelsey Jean-Baptiste
[email protected]
(212) 360-1311
New York City department of Parks and Recreation, public art, community boards, forestry, parks permits, neighborhood parks, fitness centers, recreation centers
