Rebound Five: Asiyah Lites Rasheed & Jamaal Lites

Asiyah Lites Rasheed and Jamaal Lites owns Brown Sugar Chicken and Donuts in Kansas City, Kansas.

The restaurant opened in December and is known for its wings and Wyandotte fries, along with house-made desserts, sauces and tea.

THE REBOUND KANSASCITY IS AN EFFORT TOHELP OUR COMMUNITYRECOVER FROM THEIMPACT OF THECORONAVIRUS.TONIGHT -- WE CONTINUEOUR WEEK-LONG SERIESWITH A BROTHER ANDSISTER WHO SHARE ASMALL BUSINESS.THEY'RE SURVIVING THEPANDEMIC WITH A LITTLECREATIVITY -- AND SOMESERIOUS FLAVOR.THIS BROTHER AND SISTER-- ENVISIONED SOMETHINGDIFFERENT HERE.Asiyah Lites RasheedOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"In the beginning it was goito be just a silent partnership,but I said you know whatbrother, I think you need memore than just as an investor."THE TWO REBUILT THISSPACE -- FROM THEFRAMING -- TO THEFACADE.JAMAAL WORE A MASKTHEN -- ASIYAH -- ANDEVERYONE ELSE -- ISWEARING A MASK NOW.COUNTING ONUNCONVENTIONAL SUPERHEROES FROM OURCOMMUNITY.Jamaal LitesOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"Our customers.

Ourcustomers are really comingin.

They're showing up.

Theywant our food They're veryreceptive of the measureswe've taken."BROWN SUGAR CHICKENAND DONUTS OPENED OFF38TH AND STATE AVENUEIN DECEMBER 2019 -- JUSTMONTHS BEFORE THECORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.NOW -- AT THERESTAURANT YOU'LL SEE --GLOVES -- MASKS -- ANDFACE SHIELDS.PLUS --Jamaal LitesOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"We serve chicken, chickenand chicken, many differentways."DID I MENTION -- DONUTS?FROM CLASSIC GLAZED --TO M&M TOPPED -- THEYMAKE LOTS AND LOTS OFDONUTS.Asiyah Lites RasheedOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"It's just a bunch ofdeliciousness that everyonekeeps coming back for more."THANKFULLY -- THEY CAN.Asiyah Lites RasheedOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"Once we closed our doors asfar as dining in and just doingcarry out, we noticed thenumbers just weren't makingsense for us so we felt liketaking that break, closingdown, figuring out the beststrategy to do carry out.

Wetook a two-month break andwe came back and ever sincethen it's been a lot better."Jamaal LitesOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"We actually took thatopportunity to do sometraining.

We took thatopportunity to take a breakand we took an opportunity toredo some of our menuthings.""It also put us in a position tocome back better than whenwe opened.JAMAAL AND ASIYAH WEREDENIED A PAYCHECKPROTECTION PLAN LOAN.MONEY THOUGH -- WASN'TTHEIR ONLY CHALLENGE.Jamaal LitesOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"Shutting down was to besafe, but not reopening earlierwas because we could notfind the staff.""COVID-19 has shown us thatwe have to be nimble.

Wehave to be ready to change."AS THEY LOOK BACK OVERTHE LAST FEW MONTHS --THERE'S A NEW FOCUS ONTHE SWEETNESS BEYONDTHEIR STRUGGLES.Asiyah Lites RasheedOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"It's people over profit.

Wehave to think of ourcommunity before we try tomake money."Jamaal LitesOwner, Brown Sugar Chicken andDonuts"In this time when there's a lotof uncertaintly, there's anopportunity as well."THEY TELL ME THEIRFAMILY HAS PITCHED IN TOWORK -- AND PEOPLE HAVEBEEN COMING IN JUST TOBUY GIFT CARDS ANDSUPPORT THEM.RIGHT NOW -- THEIR GOALIS TO MAKE IT