Formerly known as Tatse & Alobosa Bar, which opened in 2021 in downtown Lansing, owner Taiwo Adeleye said the decision to rebrand and relocate was made to increase traffic and "expand their horizons" by being more accessible to the student population.

"We've had people complain a lot that they would rather us be closer to them to reduce their transportation and everything," Adeleye said. "So there's one of the reasons why we decided to get closer: to able to provide the service closer to the students."

The new location at 515 E. Grand River Ave. is also more central to the Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing areas. 

"We have three different communities that can access us right in the middle, rather than us being at the extreme," Adeleye said.

Adeleye said there are a multitude of factors that make the restaurant stand out in this area.

"The culture, the ambience, the food itself," Adeleye said. "There is actually no restaurant that offers what we offer. The goat meat, oxtail, the Jollof rice, that really makes us stand out."

Comparative cultures and politics junior Charlie Slawnik said he was excited when he heard that a Nigerian restaurant was opening nearby because he doesn’t have a lot of experience with African food.

"I’m glad to see more restaurants open up that aren’t just Western, White cuisine that actually have interesting cuisine for people all over the world," Slawnik said.

Another way Adeleye said he is trying to appeal to the student population is by putting Nigerian elements in the form of burgers and wraps to get customers more familiar with the style of food.

"For you to be comfortable enough to try Nigerian food, we need to meet you halfway," Adeleye said. "That's why we have the burger, but we're not using steak, we're using suya."

African Student Union President Trevor Wabbi said he hopes that Handie opening closer to campus will provide an opportunity for Nigerian students to be closer to their culture and feel a sense of home.

"It's really good for culture and really good for just promoting the African history within the area, because on Grand River and within East Lansing there are very few African restaurants," Wabbi said.

For Adeleye, the cultural immersion doesn’t stop with the food. Large screens throughout the restaurant play Afrobeats music and he encourages customers to start a conversation about the ingredients and recipes.

"The food is like a channel to our culture," Adeleye said.