Until last Saturday, Chicagoans wanting to experience chicken and waffle Los Angeles-style had to cook them at home.
But the arrival of Rosscoe’s Chicken & Waffles at 3947 S. King Dr. changes all that. Rosscoe’s joins a small cadre of Black-owned sit-down eating establishments in Bronzeville that includes Pearl’s Place, 3901 S. Michigan Ave.; The Negro League CafΘ, 301 E. 43rd St.; and Blu 47, 4655 S. King Dr. However, the South Side Rosscoe’s is not affiliated with the famous Roscoe’s (spelled with only one “s”) House of Chicken & Waffles in Los Angles or Atlanta.
But does offer a similar menu that includes chicken and waffles, a concept coined by Roscoe’s in Los Angels. The housing redevelopment in Bronzeville has not only made it more expensive to live there but also difficult to find retail space for a sitdown restaurant. With a list so small Rosemary Malone, one of four owners of Rosscoe’s, said it’s all the more reason to open a Rosscoe’s in Bronzeville.
The other three owners are Tommy Smith and husband and wife team, Darnell and Tonya Johnson. “Previously my business partner, Darnell, owned a Rosscoe’s in New York called ‘Rosscoe’s East. But after he met his wife, who is from Chicago, he closed the New York spot and opened this one with us,” Malone said.
“Looking ahead, I see us relocating to a bigger space or having multiple locations.” Even with seating for 80 people Malone said having adequate space is still a challenge especially on Sundays when large church crowds are expected. “There seems to be two churches on every block in Bronzeville, some as big as 2,000 members, so that’s when we will really feel the tightness,” Malone added. Customers don’t seem to mind the small space though.
“The food is the bomb. Harold’s Chicken don’t have nothing on Rosscoe’s,” said customer Melvin Burton. “I drove all the way from Maywood to get some of this good chicken, so it must be good if I came this far. And as far as space goes, this place is bigger than my apartment, so there’s plenty of space here. Malone said while everyone is welcome, she hopes Rosscoe’s will attract business people as well.
“That’s why we are not a cash only establishment because we are going after a different kind of customer base,” she added. Street parking is available. For more information, please call 773- 536-3300.
______ Copyright 2008 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
