As the winner of “America’s Next Great Restaurant” on NBC, Jamawn Woods was promised three locations for Soul Daddy, his proposed chain of healthy soul food restaurants. A month after opening, the locations in Los Angeles and New York City are closing, leaving only the Mall of America branch open. From the press release:
After a careful review of the business model and the performance of the restaurants, we have decided that our best opportunity for Soul Daddy’s success is to focus our efforts on establishing a solid footing in one location, building the brand, and developing the operations from there. We have decided to close our restaurants at Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles and the South Street Seaport in New York, effective June 14, and focus on developing the best restaurant we can at the Mall of America restaurant in Bloomington, Minnesota. While it has certainly been a difficult decision, we believe this is the best approach as we work towards ongoing success for Soul Daddy. [via Eater]
Wow, what a surprising turn of events. If “The Bachelor” and “America’s Next Top Model” taught me anything, it’s that reality competition winners are destined for success. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go listen to my Lee DeWyze album.
![[avatar]](http://p.uproxxcdn.com/photo/226/thumb)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/harmoncat-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/Brie-GIF-150x150.gif)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/communityjeff-150x150.gif)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/comm-150x150.gif)
Guy Fiery was clearly involved.
This guy opened a soul food restaurant in New York City and placed it in the goddamn South Street Seaport? Are you fucking kidding me?
Not in Harlem, not in Bed-Stuy, not in Midtown … but down in the pedestrian mall with the J. Crew and the Abercrombie & Fitch stores that’s full of white-bread midwestern tourists?
Fuck you, you deserve to go out of business.
Healthy soul food? There’s your problem.
When I want soul food it’s gotta’ be a mall in the middle of Minnesota! YEAH!
The only people who’ll be at this restaurant are Prince and Kirby Puckett.
Healthy soul food restaurant? What did it beat out Soup R Crackers?
Just remembered that Puckett is dead. Sorry Prince. Looks like its just a table for one.
Was this guy named after the sound Michael Jackson makes?
@UU- It’s so much more than just soup.
I work three blocks from the Seaport, I love soul food, and I’ve never heard of that place.
They had a clip on The Soup where someone on this show actually did try to do a soup-based restaurant called “Soups.”
I’m guessing she failed because Hale & Hearty already exists.
BUMMER. I went to the Los Angeles location and it was GREAT. Really reasonable prices and great tasting food.
The Monsieur wins today.
/JAMAWN-A!!
Hopefully he’ll be able to continue operating and grow his business. He actually had a good concept (but he needs to bring back his fried chicken…everything else can be healthy).
Minnesota and Soul Food go together like Ned Stark’s head and the rest of his body.
To be fair, this might be a wise decision. The only black people in Minnesota mull around the Mall of American eating food and looking at things they can’t afford.
Trivia for ya: Rarely is a “soul” an actual ingredient in Soul Food. At least outside of New Orleans.
Once again, everything that the philandering albino Bobby Flay touches turns into BBQ shit. I don’t think Jawmawn even wanted to do “healthy soul food” in the beginning. He just wanted to do a chicken and waffles franchise nationwide. The judges/investors talked him into the healthy angle. Sucks for him.
I’m so sad to see the LA location close. The service was great, & the food was fresh, light & full of flavor.
This is certainly not a setback for him. Jamawn will continue to see success in whatever he does. He’s a hard worker with an entrepreneurial spirit and a ton of heart. A true class act who most definitely has soul.
Keep your head up, Jamawn!