Red Coal BBQ + Chekell’s SoulFood Palace = Southside Soul
one family restaurant’s new location gives way to another family restaurant’s new beginnings
Rebecca Mennecke, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
Editor's Note: Hey! Exciting news! Southside Soul is officially open for business as of Sept. 5! Check 'em out at 2839 Mall Dr. Suite 7 in Eau Claire.
The new location of Red Coal BBQ Family Restaurant at 2235 N. Clairemont Ave. is the perfect representation of what a community can accomplish when they work together.
Owner Brian Moskiewicz even calls it “a dream come true.”
And in the month since they made the move from their previous location at 2839 Mall Drive, the kind-hearted people behind the business have shown their true colors when it came to supporting another family restaurant: Chekell’s SoulFood Palace.
After a catering event fell through, Red Coal BBQ ran a drive-thru event to sell the leftover food, with all proceeds going to benefit Chekell’s so they could build a permanent brick-and-mortar location, as the Chicago-style eatery has been operating out of The Nucleus since it launched in February. Over 600 people showed up, Moskiewicz said, with cars lining up around their new building.
“There were definitely a few tears shed of just joy and happiness to be seeing a community come together and show love and support for one another,” said Antoine Hill, co-owner of Chekell’s. “Which, that – ultimately – should be what it’s all about: It should be about love, support for one another, to try to be the best that we all can be.”
Red Coal BBQ’s new location features breakfast (including biscuits and gravy, eggs benedict, a Texas Ranger skillet, and Early Bird Curds) and a more family-friendly vibe, owners say. Chekell Hill and Moskiewicz – friends so close they consider each other family – came from opposite sides of Chicago: Hill the South Side, and Moskiewicz from the North Side. Their love of Chicago eats – and their tight-knit approach to business – led them to launch a new combined business, Southside Soul, which will be located at the former Red Coal location on Mall Drive. The eatery will feature a sports-bar atmosphere, complete with eats like Italian beef, gyros, Philly cheesesteaks, catfish wings, and – still to be determined – Chicago-style pizza.
Most importantly, owners Moskiewicz and Chekell Hill plan to bring their family-first, community-integrated approach to this new venture, which opens on Aug. 1. “It’s our passion,” said general manager of Red Coal BBQ Joe Lundquist. “It’s what we do.” Thanks to support from the Pablo Center, Pablo Group, and Uniting Bridges, the new business – extremely uncommon in the often competitive barbecue restaurant field – will be the perfect place to catch a Bucks or Brewers game (or the Blackhawks, if you’re a Chicago native), or listen to local live music – something the owners have been desperately missing in recent months.
“It feels great,” said Antoine Hill.“This is probably one of the happiest (moments) of my life. ... We’re still smiling.”
But for now, the Red Coal BBQ team is excited about their fresh start in a new location, getting to know their community, and serving up smiles with every great plate of food.
