September 7th 2023.
Former NBA player Kevin Johnson is no longer looking over the basketball court as a point guard, but is instead surveying towns for his restaurants. According to Basketball Insiders, Johnson is expanding his Fixins Soul Kitchen restaurant, with the first location debuting in Sacramento in 2019.
Last month, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that Johnson will open one in downtown Detroit, located at 1435 Randolph Street. Locations are also planned in Los Angeles, Tulsa, Denver, and Oakland. Colorado should have its opening in early 2024, located at 2600 Welton Street, inside the Hooper Building.
The restaurant’s menu is full of traditional soul food entrees. Fried chicken and waffles, oxtails, and shrimp and grits are all available. Fixins include peach cobbler, collard greens, and fried green tomatoes. Side items include catfish nuggets, red beans, and mac and cheese. Vegan options are available too, such as blackened tofu with corn succotash, a romaine-arugula salad, and a grilled portobello burger.
Erik Rhee, the company’s national director of real estate and development for about a year, is a Denver resident who has been there for 30 years. He commented that Johnson aims to revive smaller, historically Black neighborhoods. “[Kevin Johnson is] all about promoting Black-owned businesses,” Rhee said.
The Oakland restaurant is slated to open in March 2024 near Lake Merritt. The first Fixins Soul Kitchen opened in Sacramento in 2019, where Johnson served as the city’s 55th mayor and the first Black man to be elected to that position. He served in office from 2008 to 2016.
With the opening of Johnson's Fixins Soul Kitchen, he is now looking to bring his passion for community service to the restaurant industry. His vision is to bring soul food to the people while revitalizing historically Black neighborhoods. With multiple locations planned around the US, Johnson is sure to make a lasting impact in the industry.
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