Beloved comedian and Crenshaw native Tiffany Haddish is using her voice and platform to rally support for one of Los Angeles’ most cherished culinary landmarks — Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen, a community institution now fighting to keep its doors open.
For over three decades, Dulan’s on Crenshaw, located in South L.A.’s Hyde Park neighborhood, has served more than just fried chicken, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese — it’s served comfort, culture, and connection.
Founded in 1992 by restaurateur Greg Dulan, the eatery has been a mainstay of African American cuisine and heritage in Los Angeles, drawing everyone from neighborhood families to celebrities who grew up on its soul food staples.
But in recent months, Dulan’s legacy has faced a financial crisis. Dulan revealed that a hard-money loan he took out to remodel the restaurant and purchase nearby parking lots had put him in a precarious position. The debt, he said, has left him struggling to stay afloat — a painful blow for a business that has long nourished the Crenshaw community.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl,” Haddish told reporters during the emergency fundraiser held outside Dulan’s Wednesday night. “This has been a part of my family, this has been a part of my community — and anything that has been a part of the fabric of me, I’m going to show up for.”
True to her word, Haddish pledged to match community donations made during the fundraiser, galvanizing attendees and amplifying the call for support across social media.
The event, which drew a large crowd of locals and public figures, quickly became more than a fundraiser — it was a celebration of cultural resilience. In a touching moment, the Los Angeles City Council presented Greg Dulan with an official certificate of recognition for his decades of service to the community.
“I’m just overwhelmed with emotion,” Dulan said, visibly moved. “I’m in awe of just some of the things people are saying and some of the things they’re doing.”
A Legacy on the Line
For many in South Los Angeles, Dulan’s represents far more than a restaurant — it’s a living archive of the city’s Black culinary tradition. Established by the Dulan family, pioneers of soul food in Los Angeles, the restaurant has weathered changing times, economic shifts, and even a pandemic.
Haddish’s public show of support underscores a growing movement among Black celebrities to preserve historic local businesses — especially those rooted in community service and cultural preservation. In an era when gentrification continues to reshape Los Angeles’ historically Black neighborhoods, such efforts have taken on renewed urgency.
The Bigger Picture: Economic Strain on Community Businesses
Dulan’s financial struggles are part of a larger story about how small, family-owned businesses — particularly in minority neighborhoods — face disproportionate challenges in securing fair financing and surviving economic downturns.
Hard-money loans, often high-interest and short-term, can provide quick capital but also carry immense risk. For many business owners like Dulan, they become a double-edged sword: a means to grow, but potentially the reason for financial collapse if repayment terms spiral out of reach.
Community advocates say Dulan’s plight highlights the need for more accessible funding, city grants, and equitable lending programs that protect heritage businesses.
Hope Beyond the Hardship
Despite the uncertainty, there’s renewed optimism that with continued community support — and Haddish’s powerful endorsement — Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen can survive. Donations continue to pour in, and city leaders are exploring ways to help stabilize the restaurant’s future.
For those who grew up on Dulan’s food, saving the restaurant is about more than preserving a local business — it’s about safeguarding a piece of South L.A.’s soul.
“When you walk into Dulan’s, you feel like you’re home,” one community member said. “This place raised us.”
As the aroma of cornbread and fried catfish continues to waft down Crenshaw Boulevard, Dulan’s story reminds Los Angeles that while food nourishes the body, community nourishes the spirit — and that spirit is worth fighting for.
