Conversations with Fatima Tekko

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fatima Tekko

Hi Fatima, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story?! … where do I even start?! I feel like I have lived many lives. Buckle up, because it’s going to be quite the ride!
Born in Michigan, I grew up in a minority family. My father dedicated his career to Ford Motor Company and was one of the hardest workers I’ve ever known. My mother, a full-time housewife, always found time to care for others, whether it was a cousin, grandparents, or my brother. I deeply admire her strength and nurturing spirit.
As a child, I envisioned myself as a teacher. My passion for learning and reading was immense. I would gather my stuffed animals to conduct an entire class for fun! My siblings often teased me about my imaginative play. However, life took a different turn. I married young and welcomed my first son, Joe, during my first year of college at just 19. Due to his health challenges and frequent hospital visits, I became determined to pursue nursing. I returned to college a few months after his birth, focused on my nursing goal, all while juggling a full-time job as a Liaison for the Dearborn School District. Fulfilling all my prerequisites to enter the nursing program I thought I was well on my way. Only to find out there was a TWO-YEAR waitlist. FRUSTRATION took over, to say the least!
At one point, I confided in a supervisor about my frustrations having gotten this far and feeling like I was hitting a huge speed bump. He encouraged me to consider a degree in Social Work, given my love for working with youth and families; I ultimately pursued and completed. During this time, I also had my second son, Mac, and relocated to Connecticut to open Little Caesars franchise locations. Due to personal reasons, my sons and I returned to Michigan. DEVISTATED! The feeling of having to start over again and figure out the ‘what’s next’ was a little overwhelming in my early 20’s with two kids.
Growing up with two brothers, I was deeply involved in sports, playing football, basketball, and baseball at the local park. My passion for sports made me very much so a sports enthusiast. I attended numerous charity events and sporting occasions, which helped me connect with athletes who later supported my youth-focused initiatives at the schools I was working at. One athlete even suggested I work for him, prompting me to leave my school job and launch my own resource agency, and that’s how Ambitious Futures was born. Through this agency, I organized similar events and community givebacks for athletes who became my clients, leading to referrals from various fields, including sports, entertainment, fashion, and music.
As Ambitious Futures grew, I taught myself in areas like press, media, marketing, advertising, brand development, and product placement. I applied these skills to my clients, expanding my network and building a solid reputation for offering these services. A few years in, I began collaborating with small businesses and brands, which introduced me to the field of physical therapy. After marketing for a physical therapy group, I was offered a location in Dearborn. Although construction delays postponed its opening, I successfully led locations in Dearborn Heights, Ypsilanti, Ferndale, and Southfield. Nearly two years later, we finally regained the Dearborn site, which paved the way for Fresh Rootz in 2019. I was so immersed in sports and health; leading into my own wellness journey. I tried a smoothie diet at a local chain, only to gain 20 pounds, overtime, due to their high sugar content. I discovered that there was 1200g with hardly any real produce! Through conversations with athletes and creating the vision Fresh Rootz was brought to life with the mission to do things very differently; a fresh pressed juicery and plant-based cafe.
Experimenting with smoothie-making and collaborating with an athlete friend passionate about juicing inspired me to create a unique juice bar. Positioned on or near college campuses, our interactive spaces serve as a hubs for black-owned, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. Along with our plant based menu, we feature vendors offering vegan foods, sea moss, fresh tea, protein bites, and more! It doesn’t stop there for Fresh Rootz; services such as meditations, fit challenges, yoga, and platies are offered as events on our outdoor spaces.
There are countless more details to this story, but that would make it far too long to share!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
FAR from a smooth ride! — Keeping the focus on Fresh Rootz… we burst onto the scene right when the pandemic decided to crash the party in November 2020! After wrestling with contractors and battling lockdowns that turned permits into a mythical quest, we finally opened—only to find the University and nearby hotspots were locked up tighter than a drum. It often felt like haystacks were floating down the road. It was a total ghost town! With a shortage of willing workers, we were stuck in park mode. I had started sweating bullets about our survival as what should’ve been a thriving business.
Being Muslim, all I knew to do was to was to call onto God. I hit pause for the whole month of April of 2022, which happed to be Ramadan, just focused on my fast and to pray it out. I that when I tweaked our concept and thought, “Let’s give this another whirl with a new investor!” Fast forward to May 2nd, my fathers birthday I will never forget the date, we reopened, the University had also revved its engines with the students coming back on campus and BOOM—blessings started pouring in like confetti! Plus, thanks to the fab relationships I’ve built, our place has turned into a celebrity hotspot. Who knows what famous face might stroll through? Talk about keeping the buzz alive!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Welcome to Fresh Rootz, where fresh raw juice meets a whole lot of heart! This juicery and plant based cafe is a vibrant hub. A team filled with health enthusiasts who’ve banded together to whip up delicious juices and smoothies brimming with vitamins and nutrients. After diving deep into the world of fruits, veggies, and herbs, they’ve crafted drinks that not only tackle health hiccups but also taste like sunshine in a cup!
But wait, there’s even more! Fresh Rootz embodies a “From The Roots” ethos, flourishing within minority communities by providing spaces for studying, meetings, and engaging activities. They’re not merely serving juice; they’re igniting a community movement!
Established and founded in 2019 by Fatima Tekko and investor Noman Siddique, Fresh Rootz opened its doors in Midtown-Detroit on the vibrant Wayne State University Campus, where the neighborhood warmly welcomed it! Investing and joining the team in 2022, DeAndre Woodson, was motivated by his personal health journey. Alongside Fatima and Noman, they’ve formed a dynamic trio behind this Woman-Owned, Black-Owned, Minority-Owned treasure! In 2024 Fresh Rootz expanded by opening a SECOND location near Oakland University campus in the city of Rochester Hills. With aspirations to expand to more college campuses, they are set to offer healthy alternatives to students and locals nationwide.
And the menu? It’s growing faster than you can say “smoothie”! Prepare for invigorating teas, immune-boosting shots, flavored coffees, vegan foods/desserts and much more! Additionally, they feature a unique twist with add-ons that address everything from pain relief to stress reduction. Fatima’s vision for smoothie bowls, acai treats, and parfaits is also one of Fresh Rootz top selling items!
Fresh Rootz is not just about juice; it’s a flavorful revolution!

What matters most to you?
Numerous factors inspire me, but the most significant ones are those that also motivate me. As the daughter of immigrant parents, being a Muslim woman has presented various challenges that I have had to overcome. Balancing the need to explain my unconventional choices to my family while adhering to societal expectations, greatly fueled my ambition for success. I aspire to uplift others who share similar experiences and feel confined by a lack of representation.
While some of my inspirations may sound cliché, my children are certainly at the top of that list! Having them at a young age allowed me to grow alongside them, fostering a friendship while still maintaining parental boundaries. They have had a front-row seat on this journey, and there’s nothing more uplifting than having your kids as your biggest cheerleaders.
In addition to my parents and children, my greatest inspiration is undoubtedly my brother. Throughout this wild and ongoing journey of health and wellness, I have committed myself to learning about better eating and living to support him. Although my other business pursuits haven’t centered on health and wellness, they have always been in alignment with those values. I realized the need for more establishments like Fresh Rootz, which motivated me to create a space that addresses this gap. My brother’s health journey has been a direct reflection of our community’s needs, driving me to take action.

Pricing:

• $$-$$$
• Our prices are very fair and fitting in the market. Keep in mind majority is REAL, fresh, and make from scratch.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://FreshRootzJuice.Com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshrootzdet/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshRootz/
• Twitter: https://x.com/freshrootzdet
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fresh-rootz-detroit