Soul Daddy
Encyclopedia
Soul Daddy was an American fast casual restaurant
founded by Jamawn Woods, featuring soul food
that is both traditional and healthy. As a contestant on the reality television show America's Next Great Restaurant
, which aired in 2011, he created the concept for Soul Daddy (originally conceived of as W3, or Woods' Wings & Waffles), and was named the winner in the show's first season finale on May 1, 2011. The restaurant chain opened on May 2, 2011, at three locations: at the Mall of America
in Bloomington, Minnesota
, at Hollywood and Highland
in Los Angeles
, and at the South Street Seaport
in Manhattan
at 189 Front Street. The Manhattan and Los Angeles locations closed on June 14 and 15, 2011 in order for Woods to focus on making the Mall of America location successful, only for that location to close two weeks later on June 28.
who, as a result of the poor economy, began serving chicken wings and waffles out of his home in order to support his wife and three children, as recounted in the series premiere of America's Next Great Restaurant
, a reality television
series on which Woods competed with other contestants to pitch restaurant concepts to investors Bobby Flay
, Curtis Stone
, Steve Ells
and Lorena Garcia. In the second episode, the other contestants unveiled their concept at Universal CityWalk
, where Woods' restaurant was called W3's, or Woods Wings Waffles. In the third episode, a number of the contestants, including Woods, were advised to rethink their restaurant name, and devise a slogan or philosophy, along with a signature dish that represented their ideas, which would be voted on by a large group of customers. Woods unveiled his revised concept as "Soul Daddy", a soul food
concept that bore the slogan "Cooking with Heart & Soul", and whose signature dish was collard greens
with smoked turkey, grits accentuated with parmesan cheese and nutmeg, and loaded corn bread with sautéed onion, celery and bacon, which won him the most customer votes that week. By the fifth episode, Woods, who had downplayed the waffles from the dishes he had prepared in the previous episodes, re-introduced them to his menu on the advice of the investors.
In the first season finale, which aired on May 1, 2011, Woods beat his two fellow finalists, Joseph Galluzzi and Sundhir Kandula, who competed against him with meatball and modern Indian cuisine concepts, respectively. Bobby Flay, one of the four judges and investors, explained Woods' victory thus: "A passion for food, a solid work ethic, good business sense and delicious meals are what the investors were searching for on this series and Jamawn embodies all of those traits and more. He is truly the heart and soul of Soul Daddy. The investors are thrilled to introduce soul food to America through these restaurants and we are confident they will savor every flavor." The restaurant's three inaugural locations, at the Mall of America
in Bloomington, Minnesota
, at Hollywood and Highland
in Los Angeles
, and at 189 Front Street in the South Street Seaport
in Manhattan
, opened on May 2, the day after the finale.
ANGR Holdings, LLC (ANGR), a limited liability company, managed the restaurant. Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has agreed to purchase Ells' investment in the company at his cost, provided support for company operations and invested a total of $2.3 million in cash contributions, $220,000 of which was invested by Ells' in particular. The company has also registered trademarks on several of the show's restaurant concepts names: Soul Daddy, Harvest Sol, Spice Coast, Grill'Billies, Sinners and Saints, Revolution Tacos, Chǎo, and The Sports Wrap.
Woods, as part of his commitment to Soul Daddy, purchased a home in Lakeville, Minnesota
in order to be close to the Mall of America restaurant while undertaking a year-long management training and modifying the menu to include items such as Hoppin’ John (blackeyed peas and rice), corn on the cob, and warm yams to replace the potato salad, which was not met with positive reaction by patrons. In an effort to ensure the Minneapolis restaurant's continued success, the Manhattan and Los Angeles locations were closed on June 14, 2011. However, shortly after the restaurant's consolidation to a single market, ANGR Holdings, LLC announced on June 29th that they were closing the Bloomington, Minnesota location as well, likely signaling the end of the Soul Daddy franchise.
The Soul Daddy official site redirects to Chipotle Grill.
While on leave from his job at Chrysler
, Woods is splitting his time constructing a Soul Daddy in his hometown of Detroit, while catering from his home and pursuing an associate's degree
at Schoolcraft College, a school in Livonia, Michigan
known for its culinary arts program.
Fast casual restaurant
A fast casual restaurant is a type of restaurant that does not offer full table service, but promises a higher quality of food and atmosphere than a fast food restaurant. In the US, it is a relatively new and growing concept positioned between fast food and casual dining...
founded by Jamawn Woods, featuring soul food
Soul food
Soul food cuisine consists of a selection of foods traditional in the cuisine of African Americans. It is closely related to the cuisine of the Southern United States...
that is both traditional and healthy. As a contestant on the reality television show America's Next Great Restaurant
America's Next Great Restaurant
America's Next Great Restaurant is an NBC reality television show featuring contestants pitching restaurant ideas to a panel of judges, where the winner receives financial backing for their restaurant concept. Three locations were opened across the nation — Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York—on...
, which aired in 2011, he created the concept for Soul Daddy (originally conceived of as W3, or Woods' Wings & Waffles), and was named the winner in the show's first season finale on May 1, 2011. The restaurant chain opened on May 2, 2011, at three locations: at the Mall of America
Mall of America
The Mall of America, also called MOA and the Megamall, is a shopping mall located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities, in the United States. It is located southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River and is across the...
in Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
, at Hollywood and Highland
Hollywood and Highland
The Hollywood & Highland Center is a shopping mall and entertainment complex at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in the Hollywood district in Los Angeles. The center also includes Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre, home to the Academy Awards. The historic site was once the...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and at the South Street Seaport
South Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
at 189 Front Street. The Manhattan and Los Angeles locations closed on June 14 and 15, 2011 in order for Woods to focus on making the Mall of America location successful, only for that location to close two weeks later on June 28.
History
Soul Daddy began as an idea by Jamawn Woods, a resident of Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
who, as a result of the poor economy, began serving chicken wings and waffles out of his home in order to support his wife and three children, as recounted in the series premiere of America's Next Great Restaurant
America's Next Great Restaurant
America's Next Great Restaurant is an NBC reality television show featuring contestants pitching restaurant ideas to a panel of judges, where the winner receives financial backing for their restaurant concept. Three locations were opened across the nation — Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York—on...
, a reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series on which Woods competed with other contestants to pitch restaurant concepts to investors Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and the Bahamas ; Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak...
, Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone is an Australian celebrity chef, author and television personality, nicknamed "The Quiet Terminator" by fans following his performance on The Celebrity Apprentice 3.-Background:...
, Steve Ells
Steve Ells
Steve Ells is the founder, Co-CEO, and Chairman of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Ells founded Chipotle in 1993, and under his direction, committed the restaurant to serve only naturally raised meat and to promote sustainable agriculture....
and Lorena Garcia. In the second episode, the other contestants unveiled their concept at Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk is the name given to the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. Originating as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the...
, where Woods' restaurant was called W3's, or Woods Wings Waffles. In the third episode, a number of the contestants, including Woods, were advised to rethink their restaurant name, and devise a slogan or philosophy, along with a signature dish that represented their ideas, which would be voted on by a large group of customers. Woods unveiled his revised concept as "Soul Daddy", a soul food
Soul food
Soul food cuisine consists of a selection of foods traditional in the cuisine of African Americans. It is closely related to the cuisine of the Southern United States...
concept that bore the slogan "Cooking with Heart & Soul", and whose signature dish was collard greens
Collard greens
Collard greens are various loose-leafed cultivars of Brassica oleracea , the same species as cabbage and broccoli. The plant is grown for its large, dark-colored, edible leaves and as a garden ornamental, mainly in Brazil, Portugal, the southern United States, many parts of Africa, Montenegro,...
with smoked turkey, grits accentuated with parmesan cheese and nutmeg, and loaded corn bread with sautéed onion, celery and bacon, which won him the most customer votes that week. By the fifth episode, Woods, who had downplayed the waffles from the dishes he had prepared in the previous episodes, re-introduced them to his menu on the advice of the investors.
In the first season finale, which aired on May 1, 2011, Woods beat his two fellow finalists, Joseph Galluzzi and Sundhir Kandula, who competed against him with meatball and modern Indian cuisine concepts, respectively. Bobby Flay, one of the four judges and investors, explained Woods' victory thus: "A passion for food, a solid work ethic, good business sense and delicious meals are what the investors were searching for on this series and Jamawn embodies all of those traits and more. He is truly the heart and soul of Soul Daddy. The investors are thrilled to introduce soul food to America through these restaurants and we are confident they will savor every flavor." The restaurant's three inaugural locations, at the Mall of America
Mall of America
The Mall of America, also called MOA and the Megamall, is a shopping mall located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities, in the United States. It is located southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River and is across the...
in Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
, at Hollywood and Highland
Hollywood and Highland
The Hollywood & Highland Center is a shopping mall and entertainment complex at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in the Hollywood district in Los Angeles. The center also includes Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre, home to the Academy Awards. The historic site was once the...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, and at 189 Front Street in the South Street Seaport
South Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, opened on May 2, the day after the finale.
ANGR Holdings, LLC (ANGR), a limited liability company, managed the restaurant. Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has agreed to purchase Ells' investment in the company at his cost, provided support for company operations and invested a total of $2.3 million in cash contributions, $220,000 of which was invested by Ells' in particular. The company has also registered trademarks on several of the show's restaurant concepts names: Soul Daddy, Harvest Sol, Spice Coast, Grill'Billies, Sinners and Saints, Revolution Tacos, Chǎo, and The Sports Wrap.
Woods, as part of his commitment to Soul Daddy, purchased a home in Lakeville, Minnesota
Lakeville, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,128 people, 13,609 households, and 11,526 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.4 people per square mile . There were 13,799 housing units at an average density of 381.5 per square mile...
in order to be close to the Mall of America restaurant while undertaking a year-long management training and modifying the menu to include items such as Hoppin’ John (blackeyed peas and rice), corn on the cob, and warm yams to replace the potato salad, which was not met with positive reaction by patrons. In an effort to ensure the Minneapolis restaurant's continued success, the Manhattan and Los Angeles locations were closed on June 14, 2011. However, shortly after the restaurant's consolidation to a single market, ANGR Holdings, LLC announced on June 29th that they were closing the Bloomington, Minnesota location as well, likely signaling the end of the Soul Daddy franchise.
The Soul Daddy official site redirects to Chipotle Grill.
While on leave from his job at Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
, Woods is splitting his time constructing a Soul Daddy in his hometown of Detroit, while catering from his home and pursuing an associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
at Schoolcraft College, a school in Livonia, Michigan
Livonia, Michigan
Livonia is a city in the northwest part of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Livonia is a very large suburb with an array of traditional neighborhoods connected to the metropolitan area by freeways. The population was 96,942 at the 2010 census, making it Michigan's 9th largest...
known for its culinary arts program.
External links
- Official site (Now redirects to Chipotle Grill)