Bloom Bar - Transcending Borders From Ghana's Nightlife Phenomenon to Atlanta's Cultural Hub

Atlanta, Georgia is known for having a broad array of food experiences that people travel to partake in. Bloom Bar is adding to this eclectic food foodscape by bringing Ghana to the south. Co-founder of Bloom Bar Kofi Maafo has worked across various industries since 2011 focusing on contributing to the business development of Ghana and Africa. Partnering with Co-founder Keith Edem Aweke they have combined their decades of experience within the hospitality space to create Blue Chip Hospitality Group. From this partnership came the idea of Bloom Bar. Speaking with Kofi Maafo he shared with me the inspiration and what should patrons expect to experience at Bloom Bar.

Co-founder Kofi MaafoPhoto byBloom Bar

Can you tell us about the concept and inspiration behind Bloom Bar, and how you plan to bring the essence of Ghana's nightlife culture to Atlanta?

The concept and inspiration have evolved over the years as we have been in operations for 6 years and we have had the opportunity to serve people from every continent. We knew Bloom Bar would be successful, we just did not know how big. We were inspired by the hunger to make a difference in the hospitality space in Ghana and designed a concept that started as a cocktail bar providing a space for everyone who wanted to just be in a beautiful outdoor space with great music and just be themself. But over the years and with the interaction with a diversified audience we are inspired to share the modern African culture of music, food, and art through hospitality at Bloom Bar and it all begins in Atlanta.

What is the primary goal of this Afro-bar in Atlanta? Is it to introduce West African cuisine, showcase cultural events, or create a unique Afro-nightlife experience?

Bloom Bar in Ghana has had the opportunity to cater to patrons from every continent. For people that haven’t be able to visit Ghana and experience Bloom, we are using this as an opportunity to make Bloom a destination bar in the States. This bar will embody modern Afro nightlife by capturing cuisine that fuses what the everyday American knows with ingredients from West Africa that give you the chance to taste your favorite dishes in different flavors. This bar is set to provide an atmosphere charged with music from top Guest DJs from every continent, while you enjoy your Bloom Bar's famous signature cocktails.

Blackberry MimosaPhoto byBloom Bar

Can you provide more details about the West African cuisine that will be offered? Are there specific dishes or regional specialties that will be featured on the menu?

The cuisine will highlight the modern West African palate. The controversial jollof will be available on the menu, as well as West African street staples such as suya, khebabs, grilled spicy pork chops, honey-shito (hot spice) glazed prawns, and more. The menu is an Afro-American-inspired menu.

What role does sustainability and responsible business practices play in the business plan for the Afro-bar?

Bloom Bar is an advocate for social responsibilities. In Ghana, we have two NGOs that we sponsor. Heal & Chill is one group that takes in underage girls that have been raped or molested. Bloom Bar is the main financier for this group and covers the medical treatment and psychological needs of survivors. We sponsor all healing activities held for survivors through Heal & Chill.

Opening a nightlife cocktail bar in a new country can be a challenging venture. What strategies or unique elements do you believe will set Bloom Bar apart from the competition in Atlanta?

I strongly believe that the elements that make a successful bar are the quality food, drinks, service, and management. We have done our research and we hope to fuse elements of what consumers in Atlanta are looking for, with unique elements of our food ingredients, irresistible product offerings, and great value for money in Buckhead. Hopefully, these help us overcome the potential barriers and give us a steady breakthrough in the market.

The nightlife scene in Atlanta is known for its diversity and vibrancy. How does Bloom Bar plan to engage and cater to the local community while staying true to its Afro-inspired roots?

We are authentic with our Afro vibes does not mean we don’t cater to others. I say this because in Ghana we were the venue that played the most Hip-Hop and RnB. Meaning we are also adaptable and diversified in our offerings. Our food menu is an Afro-American Fusion so it caters to a broader market and not just the African palate. We have done our research and positioned our services to cater to a diverse community.

Photo byBloom Bar

Atlanta has a diverse and competitive nightlife market. How do you plan to introduce and promote the unique Afro-nightlife experience to a broader audience in the city, including those who may not be familiar with Ghanaian culture?

To begin, it's important to embrace the essence of Afro nightlife, which is primarily centered around creating a distinctive and engaging atmosphere. It’s a unique vibe created from great energy in a space because we set the tone through our service, our staff, our music, our food and everything you’d encounter within the space. These are all elements, people look out for before choosing to go to a restaurant/bar, so we intend to do some direct marketing, and broaden our marketing channels by creating tailored content to attract a diversified audience who will be able to identify a want or need from our offerings.

Could you share some insights into the specific challenges and opportunities you've encountered while preparing for the US launch, and how your team has worked to overcome these challenges?

The challenges we faced were mostly due to cultural shock on the number of permits needed for construction. The wait time on inspections and mainly how construction is done out here in the ATL. These were very new to us because construction in Ghana is quite simple after you’ve acquired your permit. The opportunities here are endless. Firstly, the size of the market is big enough for almost everyone to do the right thing. Business credit which is available to support businesses is quite easy to access when your books are in order. That is a good opportunity to avoid stagnation.

Photo byBloom Bar

Stay up to date on news about the opening of Bloom Bar Atlanta by following them on Instagram or visiting www.bloombargh.com