Black love and Black-owned will go hand-in-hand with a New Jersey power couple’s purchase of a multi-million dollar restaurant. The popular Philadelphia eatery, Booker’s Restaurant & Bar, will now belong to the husband and wife duo of Cheri and Tracey Syphax.
The Syphaxs spared no expense with the acquisition of the beloved restaurant, which had a $3.3 million dollar price tag. Cheri is an entrepreneur and host of the Leader and Lover Podcast while Tracey serves as the president and CEO of Phax Group LLC, a multimillion-dollar real estate development company. Together, the two purchased the restaurant from a fellow entrepreneur, Saba Tedla. “I recognize great models and Saba Tedla has built a great model of excellent service, great food in a warm and inviting atmosphere that has made Bookers a staple go-to restaurant in the heart of West Philly,” stated Tracey Syphax in a press release.
Tedla founded Booker’s Restaurant & Bar in 2017 with a mission to provide an “excellent product with exemplary service,” according to the restaurant’s website. The founder decided on a name for the establishment as a tribute to the common African-American surname as well as the famous waiter Booker Wright. Booker Wright ran his own restaurant which catered to Black patrons and worked as a waiter for a whites-only restaurant in Mississippi during the 1960s.
Despite the new transition of power, customers can still expect the same level of quality and comfort. “We will keep the menu items our regulars have come to know and love, while listening to their needs and desires for something new,” stated Cheri Syphax. Tedla created the restaurant with the aim of collecting the freshest ingredients to create top great quality dishes and beverages.
Phax Entertainment Group hosted a reception for people to meet the new owners and take part in new menu items as well as beloved classics. Interested patrons can visit 5021 Baltimore Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143 to enjoy brunch or dinner from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. There’s no need to panic if Booker’s is all booked up, the couple also owns another Philadelphia restaurant named Bayou Lounge. It is located on the same block as Booker’s and serves as a space for entertainment and premium cocktails.
