A South Side restaurant co-owned by a longtime community activist is slated to get renovated next week thanks to the Food Network series “Restaurant: Impossible.”
Producers put out a call for volunteers to help build, paint, decorate and clean Josephine’s Cooking Tuesday and Wednesday. The grand re-opening of the restaurant, at 436 E. 79th St., is set for Wednesday.
A Josephine’s representative declined to comment. The Chatham soul food restaurant, previously called Capt.’s Hard Time Dining, is co-owned by Josephine Wade and her son, Victor Love. A portion of 79th Street was designated Mother Josephine Wade Way in 2017 to honor Wade — who is also known as “Mother Wade” — for her decades of work in the community.
This is not the first time the restaurant has received a helping hand. Good Samaritans helped repair Josephine’s last year after thieves stole copper wire in the restaurant’s electrical system.
“Restaurant: Impossible,” helmed by Chef Robert Irvine, initially aired from 2011-16. New episodes are scheduled to start airing at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The show previously visited Valley Inn in Palos Hills; Angelo’s Restaurant in Woodstock; Zest Bistro in Downers Grove; and Copper Still in Crestwood. Angelo’s and Zest Bistro have since closed.
tswartz@tribpub.com
Twitter @tracyswartz
