GRAND BOULEVARD — It was the kind of thing that only happens in the movies, except it happened in real life at a Bronzeville restaurant: One of hip hop’s greatest emcees stopped by for a visit — and an order of short ribs.
Rapper and media mogul Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, stopped by Bronzeville Soul, 4655 S. King Drive, Sunday afternoon as his superstar wife, Beyoncé, prepared for the second night of her sold-out show at Soldier Field.
Owner Mario Coleman told Block Club he had just returned from a shopping run not 5 minutes before the Roc Nation founder pulled up with his security and driver.
The restaurateur said he was so preoccupied with other customers that he didn’t recognize the celebrity standing only a few feet away from the counter.
But one of the restaurant’s regular customers did, quickly stepping aside.
“I was in the middle of taking his order and he saw [Jay-Z] and said ‘Man, let me get out the way,'” Coleman said.
The rapper and his small entourage were soon recognized by the 15 or so other patrons enjoying an early dinner. Most kept a respectful distance, Coleman said.
Coleman said Jay-Z told him he talked to someone who reached out to a family member, and they recommended he go to Bronzeville Soul.
“I guess it was to try the short ribs because that’s what he asked for. And poundcake,” the restaurateur said.
The visit lasted about 15-20 minutes as Jay-Z placed a large order of several items from the menu, including the restaurant’s fried corn, mac and cheese and candied yams. Then, he and his crew waited in their car for another 30 minutes until it was ready, Coleman said.
The superstar was gracious, Coleman said, taking selfies with people.
“A little girl came in and said it was her birthday. Then she said, ‘No, for real tomorrow’s my birthday.’ She was trying to get a freebie. I told her, ‘The real gift is outside. Go out there and see,'” Coleman said. “She went outside and came back in and she was super excited.”
Coleman didn’t know if Bronzeville Soul was the only stop in the neighborhood for Jay-Z. He was too excited to ask. Besides, he said, he wanted to keep the exchange respectful. As far as he was concerned, Jay-Z knew what he was doing before Coleman and his team knew.
The impact was immediate, of course. Coleman’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing since, and he’s been fielding interview requests, he said.
Coleman told Block Club the last 11 months have been a learning experience for him and his team, one that’s been “up and down.”
RELATED: Bronzeville Soul Restaurant Now Open On King Drive, Bringing ‘Great Soul Food With A Great Vibe’
He chalks it up to a lack of knowledge when he started his venture, but things have been looking up since the restaurant shifted its focus to improving customer service, he said. It took time to learn when the change up the menu and refine the daily cooking process.
“We went through a lot of changes, but it all turned out good for everybody. We’re happy. We want it to be better, of course, but we are happy it’s not killing us to the point where we thinking like, ‘We ain’t gonna make it,'” Coleman said. “We see the future and it gets better and better.”
Another change? Coleman is now the head chef.
The menu itself still changes daily, with fare like baked chicken, catfish fillets and an assortment of sides, including mac ‘n’ cheese.
The restaurant offers live music on the first and third Wednesday of every month as part of its “Bronzeville Soul Series.” Coleman is currently planning an event celebrating Bronzeville Soul’s one-year anniversary.
“This upcoming year we’ll probably be in a much better year just based on understanding what’s to be expected and how to maneuver during this particular time and that particular time,” he said.
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