Louis Hunter is the owner of Trio Plant-Based, the first Black-owned vegan restaurant in Minnesota. He started this family-owned business after he was wrongly arrested in 2016 for participating in a Black Lives Matter protest in the Twin Cities. Louis lost his landscaping job and his home due to the charges against him, and it took two and a half years of fighting before the charges were dismissed. Shortly after the charges against Louis were dropped, he shared his desire to open up a food truck, and his determination led him to investing in a full-service restaurant.
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Trio Plant-Based, opened its doors in September 2018. The establishment initially had three owners, but as of June 2019 it is 100% Black-owned and continues to thrive with the help of the community. Louis built the restaurant for racial justice and to give back to the community by serving them healthy delicious food. The business faced challenges when the food industry had to close dine-in service. The community stepped up their game and donated, ordered takeout, and volunteered to help Trio Plant-Based thrive. The family-owned eatery served up 300 free soul bowls on May 31st, 2020 to thank the community for their donations and support.
The restaurant is open for take-out and delivery as of June 3rd (initially with a limited menu) and starting June 10th with a full menu. Customers can enjoy vegan comfort food that is perfectly seasoned. Mouthwatering menu items include Chili Cheeze Fries (fries loaded with homemade Southern chili, cashew cheeze sauce, and sour cream drizzle), Boolin Buffalo (Gardein chikken tossed in buffalo sauce with Trio ranch, diced tomatoes, and romaine lettuce in a whole grain tortilla), For Your Soul Bowl (Mac & cheeze, collard greens, and buffalo sauce topped with crumbled cornbread) and Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Sauce. All menu items are 100% vegan and organic ingredients are used when possible.
Trio Plant-Based needs your help to continue their mission and keep their doors open. Donations made on GoFundMe go directly to supporting Trio Plant-based and Louis’s mission to bring positivity, health, and racial justice to his community.
