Daniella Coffey gave up nearly everything to keep her father’s soul food restaurant open just a few years ago. She and her husband sold their house. They emptied his 401(k) account. And it still wasn’t enough to pay off more than $600,000 in inherited debt. “We were still $25,000 short,” Coffey said. If they didn’t come up with the money, they would lose the business to the bank. When she checked the numbers two days before the deadline, she thought there was a mistake. “There was $35,000 in my account.” Coffey had applied for a grant, but it had been denied. A representative told her they didn’t know what happened. Somehow the application was reviewed again and approved. St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side, one of the oldest Black-owned soul food restaurants in Chicago, had been saved — a legacy nearly lost. Tap on our bio link to read more. —— Photo 1: Daniella Coffey, owner of St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen, on June 7, 2024, at the restaurant. Photo 2: A plate of smothered pork chops, corn muffins and a strawberry lemonade. Photo 3: Larry and Sophia Hopkins at St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen. ? Louisa Kung Liu Chu / Chicago Tribune ? Vincent Alban / Chicago Tribune
June 21, 2024
Daniella Coffey gave up nearly everything to keep her father’s soul food restaurant open just a few years ago.
She and her husband sold their house. They emptied his 401(k) account. And it still wasn’t enough to pay off more than $600,000 in inherited debt.
“We were still $25,000 short,” Coffey said. If they didn’t come up with the money, they would lose the business to the bank. When she checked the numbers two days before the deadline, she thought there was a mistake. “There was $35,000 in my account.”
Coffey had applied for a grant, but it had been denied. A representative told her they didn’t know what happened. Somehow the application was reviewed again and approved.
St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side, one of the oldest Black-owned soul food restaurants in Chicago, had been saved — a legacy nearly lost.
Tap on our bio link to read more.
——
Photo 1: Daniella Coffey, owner of St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen, on June 7, 2024, at the restaurant.
Photo 2: A plate of smothered pork chops, corn muffins and a strawberry lemonade.
Photo 3: Larry and Sophia Hopkins at St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen.
? Louisa Kung Liu Chu / Chicago Tribune
? Vincent Alban / Chicago Tribune
She and her husband sold their house. They emptied his 401(k) account. And it still wasn’t enough to pay off more than $600,000 in inherited debt.
“We were still $25,000 short,” Coffey said. If they didn’t come up with the money, they would lose the business to the bank. When she checked the numbers two days before the deadline, she thought there was a mistake. “There was $35,000 in my account.”
Coffey had applied for a grant, but it had been denied. A representative told her they didn’t know what happened. Somehow the application was reviewed again and approved.
St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side, one of the oldest Black-owned soul food restaurants in Chicago, had been saved — a legacy nearly lost.
Tap on our bio link to read more.
——
Photo 1: Daniella Coffey, owner of St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen, on June 7, 2024, at the restaurant.
Photo 2: A plate of smothered pork chops, corn muffins and a strawberry lemonade.
Photo 3: Larry and Sophia Hopkins at St. Rest #2 Country Kitchen.
? Louisa Kung Liu Chu / Chicago Tribune
? Vincent Alban / Chicago Tribune
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