City Life Org – NYC Parks Welcomes New Juice Bar to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

Photo: NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

Oasis Jimma Juice Bar offers an extensive smoothie menu and breakfast, lunch and dinner options, including Ethiopian specialties.

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined Michael Garner, Chief Business Diversity Officer for the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE), Oasis Jimma Juice Bar founder Abdi Abajebel, his brother Zinab Abajebel, and community members to cut the ribbon on Oasis Jimma Juice Bar, a new location in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.

“Opening a franchise like Oasis Jimma Juice Bar is about more than just food; it’s about nurturing our parks and the health of New Yorkers. Bringing culturally rich and health-conscious offerings to our parks fosters a sense of community and connection,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “The importance of our park concessions like Oasis is to encourage parkgoers to discover new flavors and adopt healthier lifestyles, while also supporting local businesses and fostering economic vitality within our neighborhoods. In this way, Oasis Jimma Juice Bar embodies the spirit of diversity, wellness and community that defines New York City.”

“Maximizing growth opportunities for small, minority, and women-owned businesses is what our work is all about,” she said. Chief Business Diversity Officer Michael J. Garner. “As a fellow Harlemite, I know firsthand the high-quality health-conscious food and beverage products and first-class service that Oasis Jimma Juice Bar provides to my neighbors in Upper Manhattan, and I am thrilled to see their business expand into Dag Hammasrskjold Park Plaza’s suite of quality concession options. This new Oasis Jimma Juice Bar location not only provides employment and local economic stimulation, but also offers a product that contributes to the overall health, well-being and cultural diversity of the local park community. This achievement is just another example of the ‘Get Stuff Done Adams Administration.'”

“We are incredibly proud of Oasis Jimma Juice Bar’s journey from Harlem to our new location at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, a significant milestone in our mission to provide healthy, fresh and affordable food options,” said Founder of Oasis Jimma Juice Bar Abduselam Abajebel. “Our goal is to foster community and promote healthier lifestyles in Turtle Bay. Through our partnership with NYC Parks, we are excited to improve public health and enrich urban green spaces by creating a vibrant hub at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza where the community can enjoy nutritious food amidst natural beauty. This partnership is an example of our commitment to cultivating a thriving, health-conscious community.”

Oasis Jimma Juice Bar offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, including Ethiopian specialties like sambusa. The menu also includes a variety of smoothie options, made in-house with whole fruits and vegetables. In addition, Oasis offers health shots with wheatgrass, ginger, lemon and other special blends.

Oasis Jimma Juice Bar was originally founded by Abdi Abajebel in 2012 in Harlem. Abdi Abajebel grew up on his family’s farm in Jimma, the birthplace of coffee and the second largest city in Ethiopia. The son of a prominent healer, he learned from his father how to use herbs for homeopathic treatments. When civil war reached Jimma, Abdi escaped and lived in a refugee camp in Nairobi, Kenya, where he made a living selling fresh fruit.

Abdi was granted asylum and settled in Harlem, New York City, where he discovered high rates of obesity and diabetes. Abdi, a diabetic himself, knew how a healthy diet can prevent disease. He was inspired to provide his Harlem neighbors with healthy, fresh, affordable food and teach them that food can be the most powerful medicine.

Then Oasis Jimma Juice Bar was born, with Abdi opening his first location on 125th Street and Broadway. Since then, Abdi has been featured in numerous newspapers and television news programs, won awards, hosted successful events at Columbia University, Riverside Church, and health fairs, given healthy lifestyle demonstrations at NY Fashion Week, and taught free nutrition classes in food deserts throughout New York City.

Dag Hammarskjold Plaza will be the fifth location of Oasis Jimma Juice Bar and the first in a New York City park.

Oasis Jimma Juice Bar at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza is open Monday to Sunday from 07:00 to 21:00. A sample of the menu can be found here.

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