by Kandiss Edwards
June 11, 2025
Home 157 is making its mark on the New Jersey meals scene
Ehi-Religion Oluwadare is a mom and serial entrepreneur. Whereas wrangling kids and working a non-profit, A Mom’s Street to Zion, she owns and operates Home 157 and shortly Legacy 27. Oluwadare’s braveness to enter an often-times risky business is a constant thread in her story. She has discovered success and failure in a number of industries. Consequently, every failure taught her a brand new lesson in life and enterprise. Oluwadare spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about her journey previous, current, and future.
A graduate of Rutgers, the restaurateur didn’t have an easy path to entrepreneurship. Initially she determined to affix the college’s nursing program. Nonetheless, she rapidly determined that she was not suited to that profession. Whereas working as a secretary for a transport firm, Oluwadare’s curiosity was piqued and her entrepreneurial spirit kicked into excessive gear.
Freight Forwarder
“Inside six months of being a secretary, I stop and determined to open up my very own freight boarding firm, Devoted worldwide transport firm. I had already created an excellent report with Homeland Safety. I usually spoke to staff within the workplaces and on the transport level. I used to be in a position to purchase a number of prospects by myself by networking. So, inside 4 years, my enterprise grew. I ended up in a 15,000 sq. foot warehouse the place I used to be transport containers, dump vehicles, and business gear in and in a foreign country.”
She stated working in worldwide transport ready her for her entrepreneurial future. Standing her floor towards misogyny and sexism made her stronger. Moreover, facilitating transactions with worldwide prospects confirmed her methods to be malleable to the customs of others.
Private Disaster
Whereas her enterprise grew, Oluwadare went by way of a private disaster. Newly married and pregnant, her residence life shifted, which finally led to the demise of her enterprise. Oluwadare’s transport enterprise was a one-woman operation. As she fought to flee home violence, her enterprise devolved. This tumultuous time in her life taught her a helpful enterprise lesson: Have a workforce. With out the correct help and construction, private turmoil derailed her firm.
“I didn’t actually have good enterprise constructions to really assist me maintain it going. Now I delegate extra. I’ve a employees of 40. I actually don’t do something anymore as a result of I’ve realized if you’re the solo individual in your online business and, God forbid one thing occurs to you, the entire thing goes down.”
Design and Occasions
Finally she escaped the violence that plagued her first marriage. By day, she labored in public well being, doing oncology analysis. A short time later, she would meet the love of her life. The newfound love led to engagement, which might flip into alternative. Oluwadare started to plan her second wedding ceremony. It was then she found she had a knack for decor. After conceptualizing and adorning her huge day, she realized there’s alternative in design.
DE Luxurious Occasions was born. She started designing shows for Nordstrom, internet hosting occasions, and renting out occasion areas and gear. Sadly, as a Black enterprise proprietor, Oluwadare obtained pushback from locals, resulting in points with zoning and landlords.
“In a suburban space, they only didn’t need it.”
Restaurateur
The problems led to Oluwadare in search of full possession of her personal constructing. That constructing would turn out to be Home 157, taking its identify from its avenue tackle, Oluwadare described the restaurant as an amalgamation of cuisines everywhere in the world. Any ethnicity can are available and really feel at residence. The restaurant will quickly have a good time its third anniversary. The accomplishment is big, as most eating places take 18-24 months to interrupt even.
“We’ve received three awards, back-to-back. It’s been featured in a film that’s not but out. The housewives of New Jersey have dined and filmed there. Now we’re on our second location.”
Legacy 27 may have a extra centered American menu. Nonetheless, Oluwadare ensures that the eating expertise and meals will probably be glorious. Honoring her previous struggles, Oluwadare has additionally began a non-profit group to assist carry consciousness to home violence points, A Mom’s Street to Zion.
Oluwadare had no plans to turn out to be a freight forwarder, occasion designer, property proprietor, or restaurateur. But, all strikes led to entrepreneurship. Along with her serendipity, she has a fearless angle about taking new alternatives. Greater than as soon as as she spoke to BE she repeated what appears to be a private mantra:
“What’s the worst that may occur.”
Having been put by way of the hearth a number of instances, she is unfazed by failure as a result of in it she usually finds her subsequent step to success.
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