Seattle’s ‘Merely Soulful’ to open on historic Central District nook

The restaurant offers BIPOC artists a space to exhibit their work. # k5abend

SEATTLE – The mother-daughter team behind Simply Soulful has big plans for their next chapter together.

The new location of their restaurant, on the corner of 23rd Avenues S. and S. Jackson, accommodates a large kitchen, a convenience they did not have despite an impressive amount of food.

But the industrial kitchen is just a bonus. Lillian Rambus and her mother Barbara Collins are also looking forward to new opportunities for community connections.

Whether performing artists such as musicians and poets or small community gatherings, they hope to add to the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

“It fits into this area that has been gentrified, and here we are a small black company that not only has this location in the Central District but is moving to another location in a historically black corner,” Lillian explained.

Simply Soulful started out at local farmers markets selling their family matriarch’s sweet potato pie recipe.

In 2014 they opened Simply Soulful on E. Madison Street in Seattle.

Everything in the restaurant is homemade. From the cookies and cornbread muffins to the side dishes like macaroni and cheese and sweet potatoes.

“I describe it as simple food, simple ingredients. We make our own BBQ sauce. We basically serve our customers what we eat,” said Barbara.

“My grandmother would be so happy. She has cooked and cared for people her entire life, so we created her kitchen for the community, ”shared Lillian.

While the planned move is exciting, Barbara and Lillian say the pandemic cut business by 25 percent, making their planned move more difficult.

They have a fundraiser on ifundwomen.com where people can contribute.

“I hope we can maintain and hopefully expand our reputation and the base we have here. We want to be a place where people can feel like they can come home and sit in grandma’s kitchen and eat a meal “said Lillian.

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