Chicago is known worldwide for its exceptional cuisine. According to Travel and Leisure, Chicago has 50 James Beard Award winning restaurants and more than 20 Michelin-star-award winners.
Because of the city’s diverse population, the cuisine varies from ethnicities around the world. Many immigrants who desire the food from their homeland start cooking for family and friends. The dining experience become so popular that some even open eateries.

That’s how it happened for CCLF borrower, Tigist Reda, the owner and chef of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant. Born and raised in Ethiopia, she acquired her culinary skills from the elder women in her family and started cooking for her family and friends once she moved to the U.S. Her food was so well received that she opened her first restaurant on the north side at 4801 N. Broadway in Uptown in 2007 serving authentic, traditional Ethiopian communal ‘family-style’ hand-eaten meals. She adopted the name “Demera” because it denotes a time of renewal, a festive holiday feel, and she wanted that atmosphere in the restaurant.

Early in 2023, she opened her second location in the Time Out Market food hall on Fulton Street in a shared space with other BIPOC chefs.

With the help of a $1,700,000 pre-development loan for a mixed-use property from CCLF, her third location will be located at 4528 S. Cottage Grove in Bronzeville and will be her largest venture to date. This will be the headquarters for all Demera Ethiopian Restaurants. She came to CCLF for financing because other financing options were not feasible for her.

This space will have a first floor 7,000 square foot commissary kitchen and restaurant, possible rooftop dining, more than 2,300 square feet of retail space, and 16 apartments on the upper levels. The building is scheduled to open in 2025.

“Tigist is a warm soul that inspires greatness,” stated Wendell Harris, Vice President of Lending Operations, CCLF. “Not only does she bring her homeland of Tigray, Ethiopia, to Chicago by way of her culinarily artistry, but she also enlightens our region on the injustice continuing back in her homeland. We are honored to help her open a new Demera Ethiopian Restaurant site in Bronzeville.”

Not only is chef Reda a restaurateur and an entrepreneur, but she is also an activist. In 2020, her homeland of Tigray, Ethiopia, was going through internal rebellion that turned into a two-year conflict that resulted in famine in the region. She felt that she had to do something.

Three years ago, she started a fundraising event, An Evening of Hope, for the humanitarian crisis that ensued in the region as a result of the war. Other chefs heard about her efforts and joined this worthy cause.

Chef Reda also sponsors and participates in many other benevolent events around the city throughout the year. Her presence in Bronzeville will add to the vibrancy of the community and open opportunities for supporting the local community and her home country.