From Skid Row Soup Kitchen to Restaurateur - Mill District Spotlight on Naomi Williamson of Sanctuary

Since launching Mill City Times last summer, we’ve met a number of local business owners for the Mill District Spotlight series.   We connected with Naomi Williamson of Sanctuary the restaurant through her social networking efforts.  Our initial intent was to do a Spotlight on Naomi as a neighborhood champion, but during our conversations some interesting history emerged. It became apparent that her “giving back” philosophy didn’t start at Sanctuary – it’s just part of her DNA.

Recent transplants to the area may have a hard time imaging our beautiful neighborhood was once part of the notorious Skid Row of Minneapolis.  But that’s exactly where Naomi, a preachers daughter and youngest of eight, spent the early years of her childhood.   It’s been quite a journey from her father’s Mission to being a partner in Sanctuary.

Naomi’s father, Rev. Stanley L. Williamson, was an ordained minister with the Shiloh Temple Pentecostal church, back before the church was segregated.  While her older siblings sang in the streets for vagrants, the younger kids worked in the soup kitchen and food shelf at the Mission, located at 807 4th Avenue South.    Naomi related, “I remember being there and hearing the singing.  My 5 sisters and 2 brothers sang the traditional old hymns such as The Old Rugged Cross, In the Garden, and What a Friend We Have in Jesus, in harmony - both in the Mission and on a Skid Row, then near some RR tracks on Washington between Hennepin and Nicollet”. 

Below is a photo in front of the Mission (Naomi is the baby). The building no longer stands.

Our conversations with Naomi evolved into a retrospective of her life’s journey.   She stated, “Certainly my parents' commitment to helping the poor and destitute - and being exposed to lots of needy people - gave me a strong sympathy for those in need, and an appreciation for those who share their own good fortune. We ourselves also were poor.  Dad not only redistributed surplus food to the poor - in later years after the Mission was closed, he was called "the vegetable man" by those who became used to him driving his route to drop off the food - our family also ate that surplus food ourselves.  Surplus food is basically food past its 'expiration' date.  To this day, I have a very difficult time watching food being wasted.  I am pleased that Sanctuary's Chef puts together balanced plates where everything on the plate is intended to be eaten as a part of his carefully balanced design.  Most portions are the size that people can eat without throwing away excess.  I also gained an appreciation for fresh, wonderful food!”

The library was a means of escaping the reality of poverty, and reading lead to college.   After working her way through law school, Naomi went on to a successful career as a corporate attorney with Honeywell in Arizona.  While at Honeywell, Naomi ran the community service volunteer group assisting Hmong refugees.  Starting a family was the motivating factor in moving back to Minnesota, and oddly enough she and her husband, Roger Kubicki, bought a home within a few blocks of the house she lived in as a baby.

Fast forward to the present, and Sanctuary is now Naomi’s vehicle for helping others.  Using the talents of Chef Patrick, Sanctuary holds special events - like their creative Tasting Menu - to benefit causes such as March of Dimes, Dining Out for Life and Youth Farms.   Additionally, you’ll always find a local artist promoted at the restaurant, and if you follow Twitter and Facebook you’ll find Naomi tirelessly creating a buzz to help promote neighborhood businesses.  For these reasons, we named Naomi our choice for Neighborhood Champion in our June 21 article recapping the first year covering the Mill District through Mill City Times.

Sanctuary is celebrating its 4th Birthday this Sunday, August 28, with food, drink and music.   As for the name, the intent was to suggest a haven/escape.   As Naomi puts it, “We don't preach in this Sanctuary, but we do provide an escape from your daily troubles and food to salve your soul!” 

In addition to following Sanctuary on Facebook and Twitter, check their website frequently for upcoming promotions and events.