Nigerian born Yinka Adedokun is a serial entrepreneur and small business owner. For 15 years his downtown Milwaukee restaurant, the African Hut, gave diners a taste of African cuisine and an education in African culture. Though Adedokun closed the doors of his restaurant in February, he is still in business at Reynold’s Pasty Shop, the business he purchased in late 2007 with an SBA Community Express Loan.

Tim Peterson, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has worked with Adedokun off and on over the past three years. Peterson provided technical assistance to help Adedokun obtain the loan to purchase Reynold’s, a business that has been operating in Milwaukee since 1956.

The product of this business, the pasty – a warm pastry filled with meat, potato and onion – originated in Cornwall, England. 

“It is something that miners had as their main food when they were mining in Northern Wisconsin. When cooked, the pasty stays warm for a very long time. That worked well in the mine,” explained Adedokun. “We have something like this in Nigeria. That is because we were colonized by the British.”

A frequent presenter at schools and universities, Adedokun enjoys educating others on the culture and cuisine of his homeland. With two degrees from the University of Wisconsin system, he continues to educate himself through classes offered through the SBDC, including the entrepreneur training program, which he completed in 2005.

“That helped to reinforce what I knew, and I learned some new things in terms of getting more organized and focused,” said Adedokun. “It just makes you a better business person. It is good for networking too and you can learn from your peers.” 

Adedokun said he has encouraged other small business owners to take the entrepreneur training and other classes offered through the SBDC.
“It is very beneficial for people like me. They have so many courses there that are so specific,” he added.

Perhaps most valuable is the connection he has with Peterson.
“I can call Tim, and he will direct me to where I need to be, because he has so many resources,” said Adedokun. “You will do nothing but get help once you get through to him. He will give you quick guidance on what to do next or where to go – or he will find somebody who can work on the problem for you. You need that as a small business owner.”