Married Couple Behind This Brooklyn Caribbean Cafe Take An Innovative Approach By Sharing Their Story With An Immersive A/V Installation
Married couple Mike and Nicole Nicholas prioritize making an impact in their community through their business.
In fact, a gentleman who met them through their plant-based Caribbean cafe and concept shop, Aunts et Uncles, in Brooklyn, NY, ended up becoming close friends with the pair and even invited them on a trip to Colombia to celebrate his 50th birthday, a major milestone as he had survived cancer and overcome two heart attacks. The friend had first met the couple after his cardiologist suggested he dine at Aunts et Uncles for its heart-healthy options, and after his last surgery he even wanted to have his first meal at the cafe.
Mike and Nicole opened the shop in 2020 with menu items such as a smash burger, a lobster roll made with hearts of palm, sweet potato oatmeal, and various bowls and salads, along with coffees, cocktails, and teas.
“He wanted to make sure he had his first meal and it had to be Aunts et Uncles,” Mike said during an interview with AFROTECH™. “You realize it’s more than just a cool spot to come and hang out or even a good meal. It’s a valuable, healthy meal that helps. It’s medicinal in so many ways. So it’s a very important responsibility. It’s an undertaking that we took on and are happy and grateful.”
The shop was always intended to embody a community-first spirit, inspired by the Caribbean roots of its founders — Mike, a St. Lucian raised in Brooklyn, NY, and Nicole, a Toronto, Canada, native with Trinidadian and Vincentian heritage. In their cultures, gatherings were abundant for enjoyment, celebrations, and good food. The pair consistently worked to create similar spaces within their local community, dating back to when Mike launched his clothing store, Brooklyn Sky, which he owned from 2006 to 2014, notes The New Yorker.
“We started with the Brooklyn Sky, which was across the street,” Nicole recalled. “And every time we would drop a particular collection, we would also always incorporate the barbecue and food and get people together for drinks. So that always turned into what people look at now as a pop-up shop.”
Their interest in bringing people together in this way brought them to cafes in Park Slope or Williamsburg, NY, where they would meet to brainstorm new ideas. However, they noticed there were not a lot of people who looked like them in those spaces. That realization became the driving force behind Aunts et Uncles — a space intentionally created to be inclusive and welcoming.
The cafe and shop was shaped by Mike’s background in fashion and design, along with Nicole’s experience in hospitality and event planning. To fund their vision, they launched a crowdfunding campaign — which covered about 10% of the costs — took out personal loans, and got creative by organizing clothing drops, with some hosted at their home. The couple also collaborated with companies such as Bleacher Report, the Negro Baseball League, and Carmelo Anthony’s brand, Stay Melo.
Never straying away from its roots, Aunts et Uncles still does collaborations, including a limited-edition T-shirt with The Haitian Croissant Foundation, which supports Haitian youth through agriculture, arts, and wellness education.
Its retail component also features products from other entrepreneurs and creatives.
“People are allowed to see their stuff come to life on these shelves as well, because once you see a product on the shelf, it just feels like your dream is that much closer to realization,” Mike said.
Installment At Rivian
The journey of Aunts et Uncles is currently being told in an original audio/visual installation inside EV company Rivian’s new Meatpacking District hub in New York, as of May 10, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. The installation will live at Rivian’s flagship store for a year for those interested in stopping by.
