Stepping onto the brick path on Z-Street is like taking a stroll down Dorothy鈥檚 yellow brick road in the land of Oz, leading you on a culinary journey.
Your journey is guided by the sweet faces of giant, metal giraffes and the luscious, sage green plants that surround you as you pop in and out of each of the three unique buildings on the path.聽
You could easily believe you鈥檝e left 蜜柚直播 far behind, in fact, you might feel that you鈥檝e found yourself on the other side of the world.
For years, the Gebremariam family has been working hard to turn a chunk of Broadway Boulevard into , an Afro-centric entertainment and dining district that marginalized communities can call home.
Laura Vargas works on her laptop as she sits inside Zedamo Coffee & Tea, 2719 E Broadway Blvd in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on June 13, 2025. The new coffee shop is part of Z-Street which includes Zemam's Ethiopian Cuisine and Zerai鈥檚 International Bar. International coffee is the focus of the cafe.
It all started back in 1993. After coming to the US in the early 1980s as an Ethiopian refugee, Amanuel Gebremariam announced to his family his plans to start a restaurant.
鈥淢y dad opened the restaurant when I was in third grade and nobody knew anything about Ethiopian food,鈥 Amanuel鈥檚 middle child, Lucas, said.
, located at , started out with just five tables in a small room. Over the years, those five tables continued to multiply and the room got bigger, with many flocking to the Ethiopian spot for their flavorful cuisine.
Through COVID-19 and the Broadway construction, 窜别尘补尘鈥檚 continued to be a staple for many. The delicious meals and warm hospitality had the community hooked.
With decades of service under their belt, the family began plans to expand 窜别尘补尘鈥檚 into an international experience, much like International Square in Washington D.C.
They took their idea to Rio Nuevo in 2021 and met with Chairman Fletcher McCusker, hoping he would help them make their vision a reality.
鈥淲e wanted it to be a place that's not Fourth Avenue, not downtown,鈥 Lucas said. 鈥淎 place where any age and demographic are welcome.鈥
With Rio Nuevo鈥檚 help, Z-Street began to take shape.
Naia Mesaliic, left, and Trinity Showalter finish up their meal, out for dinner at 窜别尘补尘鈥檚, one of the three establishments that make up Z-Street, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., June 17, 2025.
First up, of course, was 窜别尘补尘鈥檚. The restaurant was able to open back up on Broadway after the construction. Not much has changed from the early days. Even at 72 years old, you鈥檒l still see Amanuel cooking in the kitchen and talking amiably with customers.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been here for 30 years and he's got customers that he's known for 20 years,鈥 Lucas said. 鈥淗e has customers that met here, that got married and now he knows their kids. People love to see him here, he'll never retire.鈥
If you鈥檙e unfamiliar with Ethiopian food, Lucas describes it as a healthy, delicious meal that is packed with flavor. Garlic, turmeric, fenigreek, cumin and paprika are common seasonings used in their dishes.
In their spicy meals, they use berbere, a fermented hot sauce that adds the perfect kick to anything it鈥檚 on.
Each dish is served on top of injera, a traditional bread that resembles a tangy tortilla. With your right hand, you tear off a piece of injera and scoop up your veggies and meat and pop it in your mouth. It鈥檚 customary for you to always eat with your right hand for sanitary reasons.
鈥淚f you eat with your left hand nobody would want to eat with you,鈥 Lucas said.
For many, their veggies are the star of the show. Even for those who may not love vegetables, one taste of their red lentils and you鈥檒l become a believer.
鈥淚 tell people, if you don鈥檛 like them, your taste buds are broken,鈥 Lucas said.
I knew my life had changed when my veggie and meat sampler was placed in front of me, piled with roasted cauliflower, red lentils and doro wat (a spicy chicken dish slowly cooked on the bone in berbere sauce) and of course, the injera.
I tore off a piece and dug in, taking a big bite of the spicy red lentils. My eyes widened as the flavorful spice danced in my mouth, everything about it was perfect. The roasted cauliflower was just as good and served as a great way to cool my tastebuds down after devouring all the spicy lentils.
No surprise, the doro wat also blew me away. It was so rich and juicy, practically falling off the bone as I scooped some up. The spices and savory flavors mixed with the sourness of the injera was a match made in heaven. I was hooked and I couldn鈥檛 stop until there was nothing left for me to eat.
Right next door to 窜别尘补尘鈥檚, you鈥檒l find , , a convenient go-to for an after-meal drink, or for cheering on your favorite football team. (Think Messi, not Tom Brady)
As a soccer fan, Lucas was inspired to create a spot where likeminded soccer enthusiasts could catch an early 6 a.m. Premier League game. Lucas鈥檚 love of the game also shows in the decor. Soccer jerseys hang from the ceiling, many donated by customers. The bar has a lively energy, and it鈥檚 not uncommon to see groups of friends playing a soccer tabletop game, cheering and clapping as they score goals.聽
鈥淭here was definitely a need for a place to watch soccer, that is evident in the amount of people we get and different groups,鈥 Lucas said.
Zerai鈥檚 even has monthly global dance parties and different fun events like Brazilian dance classes. Some mornings, they have a children鈥檚 performer on their patio area so the kids can have some fun while you catch a game.聽
Of course, as you鈥檙e watching Mbapp茅 score goals, you鈥檝e got to have a drink in hand for a celebratory cheers.聽
At Zerai, you鈥檒l find African spirits like African vodka and a gin made from the baobab tree, Japanese beers, Chinese beers, mezcals and tequilas from Mexico, Irish whiskey and much more.
When I stopped by for a cocktail, I decided to try their Mengestu Daiquiri. This drink was made with white rum, mango, lime and Tej, an Ethiopian honey wine. This fruity drink tasted like summer in a glass, and I enjoyed every sip of it.
There鈥檚 a homey feel about Zerai鈥檚. As I was looking around and bopping my head along to the afrobeat song playing overhead, I saw groups of friends laughing and enjoying each other鈥檚 company.
You don鈥檛 get that on-edge feeling you may feel when your shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers in a packed bar. You鈥檙e in a sea of friendly faces at Zerai鈥檚 and it鈥檚 truly something special.
鈥淚've heard multiple times from lots of people that it's a safe space,鈥 Lucas said. 鈥淲e have a big LGBTQ community that comes to the dance party and they've commented multiple times that this is the only place we can dance and not be judged. I鈥檓 so humbled and happy about that because everybody needs a place where they feel at home.鈥
Sergio Sierra, barista, takes Olivia Garcia鈥檚 order at Zedamo Coffee & Tea, 2719 E Broadway Blvd in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on June 13, 2025. The new coffee shop is part of Z-Street which includes Zemam's Ethiopian Cuisine and Zerai鈥檚 International Bar. International coffee is the focus of the cafe.
, located at , is the newest addition to the trio, and is a collaboration between the Gebremariam family and , offering good vibes and rich Ethiopian coffee. Zedamo, is a take on Sidamo, a province in Ethiopia that is known for their coffee.
鈥淲hile I don't have any scientific support or evidence to say it was only growing in Ethiopia, it's one of the oldest places known to have coffee,鈥 Amanuel said.
I stopped by Zedamo for the first time soon after they opened in May, and if there鈥檚 one word that comes to mind, it is tranquility. As soon as I stepped in, I instantly felt at peace. The d茅cor inside consists of chic white chairs with trendy wavy designs, elegant arched doorways and colorful art hung around the space.
I ordered my go-to drink, an iced vanilla latte, and soon, a perfectly creamy, toffee-colored latte was handed to me. Just by the color I knew it was going to be stellar. It wasn鈥檛 too sweet or too strong, and was the perfect start to my day.
Zedamo is the place to be this time of year. You get to huddle inside in the cool, AC air while sipping on great coffee, taking in all the soothing vibes.
Once the weather gets a bit colder, Lucas said they want to start doing coffee celebrations at Zedamo. At these celebrations, they plan to roast the raw beans in front of you so you get to inhale the smoke. Then, they鈥檒l grind the beans and pour a small-but-mighty cup of coffee for everyone, served with a side of popcorn.
Whether you鈥檙e enjoying the summer sun on their vast patio, sipping on lattes, shoveling red lentils into your mouth or cheering on your favorite club team, Z-Street has a way of making you feel like you鈥檝e struck gold.
鈥淚 want it to be a place that caters to the marginalized, that caters to the people or the places that don't get the attention that other places in the states or even in 蜜柚直播 do,鈥 Lucas said.
There鈥檚 no place like home, and for many- Z-Street is home.