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Recognizing Monique Greenwood, Chief Enjoyment Office of Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns, and her husband Glenn Pogue on the opening Akwaaba Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns was established on July 4, 1995 with the opening of its headquarters, Akwaaba Mansion, in Brooklyn, NY. Since that time, the couple has opened additional Bed and Breakfasts’ in Washington, DC; on the Jersey Shore in Cape May; in New Orleans, which was unfortunately closed after Hurricane Katrina; and in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains; and
WHEREAS, Akwaaba was established by former editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine Monique Greenwood. In 2001, Greenwood quit her job as editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine to further develop her business and establish a legacy for her daughter, Glynn. In 2017, Greenwood signed on to host a reality television show in conjunction with her business called “Checked Inn.” The show is aired on OWN, the television network launched by media mogul Oprah Winfrey; and
WHEREAS, Greenwood recently announced she and her husband will open their sixth Bed and Breakfast on the East Coast in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. The new inn will be called Akwaaba Philadelphia; Akwaaba means “welcome” in a language spoken in Ghana. Greenwood says she and Pogue have long loved the flavor of Philly, and believe they’ve found the perfect location to expand their 23-year-old hospitality brand; and
WHEREAS, The couple will open Akwaaba Philadelphia at the former Spruce Hill Manor Bed and Breakfast, located at 3709 Baring Street in Philadelphia. The 1879 Victorian mansion features gracious common spaces and landscaped grounds for small private events, in addition to its six guest suites, all with private baths and most with living rooms and kitchenettes. While the company plans to begin accepting guests as early as August 2018, Greenwood has indicated her intention to host a “soft” opening on July 4th, because “it has always been our tradition to open each of our other inns on this day as a declaration of our personal independence as entrepreneurs”; and
WHEREAS, The opening of Akwaaba Philadelphia is a testament to the possibilities of minority-owned businesses in the City of Philadelphia. Research shows that minority owned businesses have an outsized impact on wealth generation within minority communities, creating jobs and opportunities for groups that have historically been shut out of meaningful economic participation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize Monique Greenwood, Chief Enjoyment Office of Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns, and her husband Glenn Pogue on the opening Akwaaba Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Monique Greenwood as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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Blondell Reynolds Brown Jannie L. Blackwell
Councilwoman At-Large Councilwoman, 3rd District
June 21, 2018