Florence's Restaurant

Florence's Restaurant is a restaurant in Oklahoma City. In 2022 it was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation.

History

The restaurant was opened by Florence Jones Kemp, a sharecropper's daughter from Boley, Oklahoma, in 1952 when she was 22 years old.[1][2][3][4][5] She recalled "I decided that I needed a job and I didn't like working for other people."[6]

The first location was on 4th Street near Deep Deuce in a single room with a single table and a second-hand stove.[3][4][7] Within two years Kemp had saved enough from her profits to send her sister to college.[7]

After several moves, at least one caused by urban renewal projects, by 1969 the restaurant was located at northeast corner of NE 23 and Fonshill in Oklahoma City, where it stayed.[3][6] Kemp had decided she didn't want to rely on landlords and bought her own property.[7] As of 2022 she owned most of the block.[7]

As of 2022 she continued to operate it with her daughter Victoria Kemp.[8][2]

The restaurant serves southern specialities including fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, braised oxtail, chicken wings, ribs, candied yams, cornbread, peach cobbler, and pear pie.[8] The television show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives featured one of the restaurant's dishes, Yammed Fried Chicken, in its fried chicken episode.[7][9]

Recognition

In 2022 the restaurant was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation.[1][10] It was the first James Beard award for an Oklahoma entity.[1] The Oklahoman called Florence's "The Grand Dame of all local restaurants."[11]

See also

References
  1. Castrodale, Jelisa (17 February 2022). "The James Beard Foundation Just Named These Restaurants 'America's Classics'". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  2. "Announcing the 2022 America's Classics Winners | James Beard Foundation". www.jamesbeard.org. Archived from the original on 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  3. "Florence Jones Kemp sports heavy medal with Oklahoma's first James Beard award". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  4. Griffin, David. "Recipe For Success: How The 91-Year-Old Owner Of OKC Restaurant Earned Prestigious Award". www.news9.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  5. Cathey, Dave. "Black History Month lives far beyond February at Florence's Restaurant". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  6. Griffin, David. "Florence's Restaurant Makes History As First James Beard Award Winner in Oklahoma". www.news9.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  7. Spillman, Kayte (2022-03-30). "All in the Family: Florence's". 405 Business. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  8. Cathey, Dave (2018-01-29). "The 15 Essential Oklahoma City Restaurants". Eater. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  9. Deadrick, Acacia (2022-01-03). "The Best Fried Chicken Featured On Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives". Mashed. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  10. Watts, Jr, James D. (24 February 2022). "Tulsa chefs, restaurants and bars up for James Beard Awards". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  11. "32 Black-owned food businesses in the OKC metro area that will have you coming back for more". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-02-27.

35.4934°N 97.4866°W / 35.4934; -97.4866

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