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Chef Jonny Rhodes tackled big ideas at his acclaimed “neo-soul food” tasting menu restaurant Indigo. So it’s no surprise that the chef is just as ambitious with his new project, a grocery store called Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries.
Like many restaurateurs who’ve had to pivot due to COVID-19 shutdowns, Rhodes envisioned creating a market so members of the community could shop and stock pantries. But a grocery store has long been part of Rhodes’ plan: per a press release, he’s wanted to open one since the beginning of Indigo, and the city-wide dine-in ban inspired the husband-and-wife duo of Jonny and Chana Rhodes to kick things into action.
“Our mission is to combat food apartheid & food inequality whilst inspiring the community to cook at home with the use of our fine soul food preserves, condiments, and sauces,” the team wrote on Instagram about the new project.
Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries is slated to open Wednesday, April 1 at 2019 Bennington Street (in the same neighborhood as Indigo). Hours of operation will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Expect the shop to sell items that would fit right in on Indigo’s menu, like yam skin molasses, okra seed oil, cornbread muffins, Carolina gold rice ice cream, and chicken rosemary breakfast sausage, and yellow barbecue sauce. The restaurant’s signature preserves will also be for sale: Rhodes’ repertoire includes 40 different varieties.
The goods at Broham Fine Soul Food & Groceries will be made in the Indigo kitchen, which allow Rhodes to continue supporting his staff. The plan is to also sell fresh produce from Indigo’s garden and farm, supplementing with produce from local farms in the meantime.
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