When you find yourself searching for some good soul food in New York City, Harlem is usually the first place that comes to mind. The South Bronx probably isn’t high on your list of places to look.  But this may be about to change: stand up for Terrence Davis and Joseph Manor—the owners of a new soul food restaurant set to open at 950 Anderson Avenue.

“This is not your ordinary restaurant, this is a going to be a  landmark,” boasted Davis, 24, while swaggering back and forth inside of his new business displaying a gift of gab and a savvy that would make Donald Trump hire him. “You are going to hear about this for years.”

Popular Soul Food is scheduled to open the first week of June at the former site of Yummy Chicken Place. After three months of renovations, the smell of the fresh paint brings the  exciting feeling of a new start, and everything inside of the restaurant, from the tiling to the furniture is fashionably contemporary and state-of-the-art. “We spent so much time on this block growing up, that it feels good to own something,”  said Manor, the 30-year-old certified head cook, as he proudly admired progress on the site.

At first glance, Manor, who someday wants to write a cook book, appears somewhat  intimidating due to his huge, yet well defined physique. In reality, though, he is quiet and assertive, personable and sweet. “Terrence made this whole thing possible, financially, he backed this up,” Manor said. “ I really love him, I appreciate him so much.”

Similiar to all relationships, the two dads often find themselves disagreeing good-naturedly, but these disagreements  never escalate  to hostilty. For instance, the two have differing recollections about how long they have known each other ; Terrence says 8 years, and Joe says 12. Nevertheless, there is an issue they both can agree upon-making their establishment a business that gives back to the community, and  can uplift the entrepreneurial  spirit amongst black people.

“There are Hispanic and Chinese owned stores and restaurants everywhere in Highbridge, [and] they are able to co-exist and compete with one another,” Davis said. “We need to start doing the same— black people spending black money.”

The guys also own Team Popular, a basketball team for young men ages 12 and over. Last summer, their team played at the Fojo and Tito Classic  basketball tournament in Nelson Park. During the tournament, the team gave away bikes and school supplies to kids. “Highbridge made us who we are today, and and kept me out of trouble,” said  Manor , who as a teenager held jobs at the Highbridge Community Life Center as a  receptionist, janitor, and volunteer.
At the center, he also received training as a cook’s assistant, until he eventually became the head cook at a retreat center in Goshen, New York. This oppourtunity afforded the Cardinal Hayes High School graduate a full scholarship to Dominican College, courtesy of the Highbridge Community Life Center, but due to personal reasons he was not able to attend.  Davis, a graduate of the Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice, exited the corporate  world and took a hiatus from classes at John Jay College to focus on his restaurant, and to pursue other business aspirations, such as opening a chain of clothing stores throughout the city.

“Education is definitely the key” Manor said, with sincerity in his eyes, watching from the front entrance of the restaurant as the children of Highbridge returned home from school. “These kids don’t want to do bad things and go to jail, they’re terrified of it, but some of them have no other choice but to dabble in  it. We want to definently keep them busy.”

When you visit the  modest- sized restaurant with a feel of home comfortable decor, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, always expect the food to be freshly prepared. The menu will consist  of barbecue grilled chicken, steak and ribs, fish, fried chicken, collard greens, yams, macaroni and cheese, desserts such as peach cobbler, and other mouth-watering combinations.

 Once the restaurant becomes firmly established, catering and delivery services will also be offered. Davis and Manor also anticipate giving bus trip to amusement parks, holding raffles, and hiring people familiar with the restaurant business.

Davis and Manor aren’t the  only driving forces behind Popular Soul Food. Davis’ aunt, Catherine Felder— a former cook at Flavor World on 165th Street— and Manor’s aunt, Robin Saber-Joseph—a cook and entrepreneur who sells dinners out of her home—will also be on  staff.  

Davis and Manor plan on starting other Popular Soul Food franchises-first in the Bronx, then throughout the rest of the city and other states.

 “The sky is the limit!” exclaimed Davis.