Kevin Johnson expands 'Fixins' restaurant in Detroit, celebrities come out to support launch

Fixins Soul Kitchen, a full-service soul cuisine restaurant celebrating African American culture and customs founded by Kevin Johnson, former NBA player and Sacramento's 55th mayor, has announced the opening of their new site in Detroit in mid-December.

At the announcement, Kevin Johnson was joined by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Detroit City Councilperson for District 5 Mary Sheffield, actor and Senate hopeful Hill Harper, media host and entrepreneur Angela Yee, landlord Rainy Hamilton Jr., and a small number of guests from Detroit's business community.

The ceremony began with jubilant speeches that praised the power of small companies and the importance of investing in our communities. Speakers commended Kevin for being an example to them as a politician, activist, and now small business owner. Hill Harper declared during the ceremony:

"When I think about the power of small businesses and communities, I think this (Fixins) is exactly what we need." Anglea Yee added, "It's wonderful to see Kevin Johnson, who's had such a successful career in the NBA and as Mayor of Sacramento, invest in historically Black communities, such as bringing Fixins to Paradise Valley."

Fixins Detroit will be located at 1435 Randolph Street, in the Paradise Valley neighborhood, which was formerly a prominent business district and entertainment hub from the 1920s through the 1950s, as well as home to the popular and thriving Black residential neighborhood known as Black Bottom. The restaurant will be 8,400 square feet in size and will seat 325 people.

Fixins Soul Kitchen was established in 2019 by former NBA All-Star and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson "KJ" and his wife Michelle, who combined his passion of Black culture with her preoccupation with outstanding food. The restaurant pays homage to KJ's childhood soul food by including family-favorite recipes on the menu as well as other delectable made-from-scratch delicacies including the iconic chicken and waffles, oxtails, shrimp & grits, and deep-fried deviled eggs.