Africatown Hall and food bank hold grand opening

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The city of Mobile, Africatown Redevelopment Corporation and other organizations came together Wednesday for the long-awaited opening of its new facility.

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Located at 2201 Papermill Road, the Africatown Hall and Food Bank features a colorful exterior that can be seen as you cross the Africatown Bridge.

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“I like the way the building sits,” said Christopher Williams, pastor of Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church. “It’s right in the middle. When you cross the bridge, the first thing you see is the eye-catching side of the building.

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Studio Rotan design consultant Renee Kemp-Rotan said traditional African motifs inspired the specific design and colors. It is the first building in the community to feature an Afro-centric design.

“What I did as lead designer was make sure the colors of the burning flag were represented,” Rotan said. “So you’re going to see pops of red tattoos and white pops of green everywhere.”

The Mobile County Commission constructed the $2.4 million, 5,300-square-foot building on land owned by the city of Mobile. The building itself was leased to the county.

Africatown Hall and Food Bank offers a combination of office space, meeting rooms for community events and its modernized food pantry. The Food Bank has refrigerated storage and more storage space for the community.

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“We have the Africatown Redevelopment Corporation, and we also have the York Town Church who have worked tirelessly in the community to make sure that, because we are a food desert, we are here, but to make sure that the community has access to fresh fruits and vegetables,” said ARC Board President Teresa Bettis.

Due to the food desert in Africatown, the food bank will serve as an oasis for citizens in the community.

Bettis said she hopes the Africatown Hall and food bank will bring new opportunities to Africatown and future generations.

“An investment in the community,” County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood said.

“It’s like the heart is beating,” Ludgood continued. “It will become a focus for people who want to know what’s happening in the revitalization of Africatown.” »

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