Hello beautiful family,
I am writing to share some news. I don’t know where to begin, so I’ll just get right to it. After some deep reflection, I’ve decided it’s time to take Azla in a new direction. We will now focus our efforts on catering and events, and will no longer function as a restaurant. This hasn’t been an easy decision, but one that has come after some life events caused me to ask real questions about what I want the next chapter of life to look like for myself and for the Azla project.
I call Azla a project because my wise brother once told me to look at it as just that, a project. Not my identity nor my life…and to remember that the opportunity to pivot is always available. After recently celebrating 9 years since opening, and our 2 year anniversary at our new location in Leimert Park, it feels like the time is now. There is a lot I could say about why I feel this way, but I will try to briefly provide some context.
When our family started Azla at the Mercado la Paloma, we did so as a way to provide mama Azla with an opportunity to live out her dream of sharing her love for food and gatherings beyond her immediate family to the larger community. She was able to realize this dream and after spending some years developing a solid foundation for the restaurant (and becoming a bit of a celebrity after appearing on the Food Network (smile!), she went back to Ethiopia to spend time with the elders in our family.
While I thought I was simply assisting my mother realize her dream, after reflecting, I now know that I was the one who gained the most on this journey. In the early years of Azla, mama and I spent long days in the kitchen together - sometimes working 13 hour shifts. While there were definitely challenges, what is most vivid in my memory is laughter, gursha, eskista, and lots and lots of storytelling. I don’t know many adults who get to spend this much time with their parents, and I am so clear that this has been one of the biggest gifts Azla has given me.
A few years after opening Azla, my brother introduced me to Lisa Marr and Paolo Davanzo from the Echo Park Film Center. They mentored me in the art of analog filmmaking, which led me to unearth a long held desire to tell stories about my family and everyday people. After years of making art when I could find some free time, I’ve decided to focus on my filmmaking and explorations in alternative photographic processes during the next season of life. We will continue to cater and do events, as this will allow us to continue to engage with our deep love of food and building community, without the time commitment needed to run the day to day operations of a restaurant.
I can’t end this letter without stating the other gifts Azla has given me. Namely, the deep friendships and bonds that have been formed over sorrel and a plate of misir and tofu tibs. Beloved friendships with the OG GomenFace Killah Ras G, Kenturah, Steve, Thabisile, Sandy and James, Janiece, Sid and Val…and so many others. And the friendship that will always remind me of the special vortex that was created at Azla - my buddy Nick. Who would have guessed a 70 something year old Vietnam veteran from Eastern Europe by way of rural Pennsylvania would be my kindred spirit? That he would bring his 90 year old sister to Azla to meet me, and that he would gift me his greatest treasure - a collection of over 100 cassette tapes of radio programming that he recorded and edited, serving as an archive of music from Africa and the Diaspora. That we would spend hours talking about independent film and food and life. That his Thursday visits would mean so much to me.
Life is full of so many surprises and I am eternally grateful for the ways in which Azla has pushed me to question everything - my beliefs, my assumptions, and at this moment, my attachments.
And so, with the words of the great prophet Octavia Butler, “god is change”, I am able to embrace the bittersweetness of this moment.
To Mama Azla and Baba Tesh, my super heroes - thank you for teaching me everything worth knowing. To my sister Banch - an architect who builds spaces where dreams come true - there are no words that can fully express my admiration and respect for you. And to Son - my master teacher - your spirit swirls around me every second of every day. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
To every team member who has served at the restaurant, whether it was for a month or over 8 years like some of our crew, your humility and dedication has been awe inspiring. I’ve learned so much from each of you and I wish you nothing but limitless joy and success. Thank you for being such an integral part of the Azla story.
And to our beloved guests, it has been my greatest honor to serve you. Your support and good energy has been a lifeline and allowed us to imagine new ways of being and doing business. May the long time sun shine upon each and every one of you.
With so much love and gratitude,
Nes