After serving up soul food through pop-ups around the Chicago area, Anthony and Rhonda Williams are getting a kitchen to call their own. The couple behind 5918 Catering & Events has leased kitchen space at 17503 Kedzie Avenue in Hazel Crest.
The lease, carried out by Matanky Realty, places the business at the north end of Hazel Crest Center shopping mall, as reported by WhatNow. The shopping center sits on the south side of 17th Street near the Kedzie Avenue intersection, next door to Pink Panini Soups & Salads and Jerk & Cocktails. Matanky Realty described the food coming out of 5918's kitchen as soul food that tastes “just like grandma’s,” per the same report.
A Business Born From Family Memory
According to 5918 Catering & Events’ website, the name itself is a tribute: it comes from the address of Rhonda Williams’ late grandparents’ home in Chicago. Anthony and Rhonda Williams started the business as a way to honor that legacy, with Rhonda wanting to create soul food like what she enjoyed growing up in the city.
Chef Rhonda Williams, who was born and raised in Chicago, brings 20 years of experience in soul and Creole cooking to the venture, according to the business’s website. The site describes 5918 as serving contemporary soul and Creole fusion cuisine, a blend that shows up across its catering menu.
What's on the Menu
5918's offerings include jerked chicken, blackened catfish prepared with butter and fresh lemon, fresh greens, creamy macaroni and cheese, oxtails, and what the business calls its famous loaded salads, per its website. The kitchen also turns out roasted herb chicken seasoned with special herbs and spices, and during Mardi Gras the menu shifts toward pasta dishes like shrimp linguine alfredo and chicken pasta.
The Williamses have been serving the Chicago area through pop-ups up to this point, building a following before committing to a permanent space. At the new Hazel Crest kitchen, the business plans to serve much of that same cuisine once it's up and running.
No Opening Date Just Yet
Despite the signed lease, Rhonda Williams said it's too early to announce an opening date, according to WhatNow's reporting.
For now, fans of the pop-up circuit can keep tabs on the business through its Instagram account, where Rhonda Williams posts photos and videos under the handle @5918catering. With a lease now in hand at Hazel Crest Center, the pop-up chapter of 5918 Catering & Events looks to be heading toward its next phase.
