What happens when economic downturns, natural disasters or cultural changes sweep away a beloved business? The late Otis Redding said it all when he sang, “You don’t miss your water till your well runs dry.” Patrons across America are longing for Black-owned restaurants that vanished during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. In Houston, the proprietors of the decades old Alfreda’s Soul Food (@alfredassoulfood) fight to not only survive but thrive.
“When you look at Alfreda’s and how long it’s been open, this is like a legacy situation for many of these businesses,” says Marguerite Williams. She co-owns Alfreda’s with her husband Troy. American Express and the National Historic Trust Preservation recently awarded the couple a $40,000 grant to help keep the doors of the Third Ward mainstay open. “God has been…
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Cuisine Noir (Digital) - 1 Issue, Resilience - Fall 2021