Kymme Williams-Davis, Brooklyn, New York

A third-generation Brooklynite, Kymme Williams-Davis is the founder of Bushwick Grind, a café with deep roots in Kymme’s family story and her local community. Kymme named the business in honor of the hardworking women in her family, including her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, whom she calls “grinders”— and the café seeks to channel their spirit in providing a welcoming space for local people.
Kymme and her husband, Raymond, were inspired to open Bushwick Grind after noticing a lack of places in their neighborhood to sit down for a cup of coffee. They wanted to provide their neighbors with a friendly atmosphere, delicious meals, and an extraordinary customer experience. And since opening the café in April 2015, Kymme has grown its offerings from coffee and pastries into a full-service restaurant, providing a health-conscious menu with food options sourced from local producers.
To ensure her business is on a path to success and financial resilience, Kymme participated in the Main Street Strong Accelerator, a collaboration between Accion Opportunity Fund and DoorDash. Through the guidance of restaurant industry experts, the program offers an immersive curriculum designed to help restaurateurs grow their businesses and gain new strategies on effective marketing, accessing capital, managing cash flow, and creating successful menus.
Through participating in this experience, Kymme networked with other entrepreneurs, received valuable input, and built lasting relationships. “The level of expertise was excellent,” said Kymme about the program, which also provided her with a $20,000 grant to grow her business.
Accion Opportunity Fund is proud to support entrepreneurs like Kymme, who nourish their neighborhoods and communities with jobs, services, resources, and so much more. To support local entrepreneurs, Bushwick Grind also hosts a space for small businesses to sell their products in their “Brick Boutique.” The café also serves as a community food refuge through the 2Fish5Loaves free Community Fridge.
Thanks in part to the support she accessed through Accion Opportunity Fund, Kymme has big plans to grow her business and nurture her interest in local, healthy food. She is currently attending New York City Farm School, and she hopes to open a community farm to grow and share her own produce. Like the women in her family, Kymme’s passion and dedication is touching the lives of many in her community.