A Nigerian restaurant on the brink of shutting down due to financial difficulties will remain open thanks to the muva herself: Beyoncé.
Earlier this year, the Renaissance star pledged $1 million to small businesses as part of her BeyGOOD Foundation’s Black Parade initiative and ongoing Renaissance World Tour.
The London-based restaurant, called Chuku’s, has been named one of the businesses to receive funding from the investment. The establishment was selected from over 500 applications requesting for funding. Siblings and owners of the restaurant, Ifeyinwa and Emeka Frederick, received $8,793.20 from BeyGOOD, according to the Miami Herald.
According to the publication, Chuku suffered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant was only open for five weeks before the unprecedented 2020 global-mandated quarantine forced many businesses to close its doors.
“Your fave foodie spot, our Nigerian tapas restaurant – is at risk of closure,” read a post on the restaurant’s Instagram page at the time. “Yes, despite our excellent press and rave reviews, we have been struggling. We’re more than just food and we’re proud to have brought our celebration of Nigerian culture to Tottenham’s High Road for the last 2.5 years. But we have been battered by the series of lockdowns, the subsequent staff shortages and a whole host of other challenges facing restaurants right now.”
Through local support, customers and celebrities, the restaurant’s owners participated in a “Six Week Charge,” aimed to secure 600 reservations in six weeks to help keep them afloat.
Keeping them afloat has been a combination of local support and customers such as A-list celebrities, including Beyoncé who participated in their “Six Week Charge” challenge to secure 600 reservations in six weeks in the latter part of 2022.
“This grant couldn’t be more welcome,” Emeka told the publication. “Chuku’s, like other restaurants that don’t have a financial reserve, has been battered by lockdowns and the cost of living crisis. Every day, we’re fighting to stay open to make it to our fourth birthday. This money will make that fight a little easier and allow us to continue celebrating Nigerian culture on Tottenham’s High Road for the time being.”
Ifeyinwa added, “I still can’t quite believe that Beyoncé has backed our restaurant – it feels a bit surreal. We’d already felt her impact when she was in town and concertgoers chose Chuku’s for their pre-gig meal, but this is a whole other level.”
