More than fried chicken and Kool-Aid on tap will stop these two businesses.
Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles and Mrs.Whites Golden Rules, two Black-owned restaurants in downtown Phoenix, discuss how their businesses were able to stay open during the pandemic and the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement on their business.
“We haven’t shut our doors completely. Just for dine-in,” said cafe worker Zaneta Zeigler, of Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe.
Zeigler said that Mrs. White has not had to shut her doors and believes the owner’s religious character is to thank for that.
“It’s always been up. There was a standing joke between the boss and myself that ‘ain’t nothing going to stop Mrs. Whites,’ but I attribute that to her devout and her belief in God,” Zeigler said.
Antjuan Jones, the general manager of Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles on South Central Avenue, said that business is slowly getting back to normal.
“Business is definitely better than when it started,” Jones said, adding that because of the pandemic, the restaurant has seen financial struggle but is blessed that the restaurant was able to keep its doors open and even expand.
“It’s a blessing having to be able to do that after coming through this pandemic environment,” Jones said.
In addition to the pandemic, Jones said he has seen more support for their business amid the Black Lives Matter movement. “We have seen people definitely want to support us as we are a Black-owned business,” Jones said.
He also said that because of their continued involvement in the Phoenix community, sales have increased also from those who not only support Black businesses but also Black lives.
“We’ve had multiple backpack drives and charity events we’ve been associated with,” Jones said. “So we have (seen) an increase because of that.”
Along with the support from the community, Jones said Lo-Lo’s will continue to be a place that supports its customers.
“We want to foster a community that is full of love and care,” he said. “And taking care of our fellow community members and family members and that’s what we do here.”
Jones said they want customers to feel a certain “vibe” when they enter Lo-Lo’s and feel a sense of belonging and opportunity.
“We provide jobs to those in the community who can’t always get a job,” he said. “We’re always looking to give people that first step to launch their careers.”
Ziegler also noted the importance of the BLM movement, and said that the history of Black lives should be a reason to support the Black Lives Matter movement and support Black businesses. “We need to stand up and put our backs together,” said Zeigler.
Ziegler said that Mrs. Whites wouldn’t be affected by anyone who opposed their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
“This is a staple in the community and Mrs. White has been here for over 57 years in the same location,” she said.
Located on the 800 block of East Jefferson Street, Ziegler preaches about how great the owner, Mrs. White, is and the historical presences of their location. “This is a part of history and Martin Luther King spoke at the church across the street,” she said.
In times of the pandemic and the heightened BLM movement, the support for Black-owned businesses is personal for business owners and customers alike.
“I’m married to a black man so I’ve seen it. I think it’s important to let them know that everything is valid,” said college ministry worker Mimi Okpe.
Okpe knows that she can’t relate to the struggles Black people face, but she actively wants to make a difference for those in the black community.
Contact the reporter at kewill40@asu.edu or on Twitter @KayintheKnow.
