The concept for the Chicken and Waffles Restaurant came about many years ago in Harlem when Motown singers, after finishing their performances in the “wee hours of the morning,” sought restaurants with both dinner and breakfast menus. Fried chicken wings and thighs with barbecue sauce, combined with waffles
swimming in sweet maple syrup, became a delicacy. These two southern delicacies are best enjoyed
together.

There are two other Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles restaurants located in Atlanta and Lithium, Georgia. Usually other southern delicacies like candied yams, collard greens, grits and eggs, and beans and rice or chicken omelet’s and salmon croquettes are on the menu.

At the Boulevard Capital Centre guests munched on “delicious, tender” chicken, collard greens and macaroni during the show, which was forced inside because of the rainstorm.

Ron Winans, who was a partner of the restaurants before he succumbed a week after Luther Van Dross, will still have his name on the marquee. His brother, BeBe Winans, and his nephews, Marvin, Jr., Michael, Jr. Carvin, Jr. and Juan, known as Phase II, paid homage to him in song. “Uncle Ron is here in spirit. He really
wanted to be a part of this. We’re here for him and we love him,” Marvin, Jr. said.

A vivacious Knight kept the sparkle going and honored several dear friends who have recently passed - Luther Van Dross and Ron Winans, and Obie Renaldo Benson, of the Four Tops, among them.

Several of her friends, who are appearing with her at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, came to perform at the restaurant opening. Robert Townsend emceed the show at the restaurant, and George Wallace said a few words. “Dionne Warrick would have been here but her mother died last Monday," Knight told the crowd.

Darwin Hobbs, a gospel singer on the EMI Label from Atlanta, honored Van Dross by singing several of his signature songs. Hobbs is a Van Dross look-alike and sound-alike. As he sang “Dance with My Father Again,” Knight’s granddaughter, Aria Jackson, performed an interpretive dance, which the crowd cheered. Townsend imitated a Soul Train interview, asking her name, how old she was, etc. “I’m twelve years old and my grandmother is Gladys Knight. ” The audience gasped because Aria showed such poise and professionalism, her wellformed dancer’s body betraying her young years.

At a news conference the day before, Al Cornish, Deputy Chief Administrator of Prince George’s County, on behalf of Jack Johnson, County Executive, who was outof-town, presented Knight a proclamation, signed by Johnson, declaring a Gladys Knight Day in Prince George’s County. Knight, partnering with the County’s
Medical Care for Children’s Partnership, which provides medical insurance for underinsured or noninsured children named by Catholic Charities, appealed to parents and community leaders to spend more time with their children and become good examples to them.

Knight promises to come back again and again, and asked the crowd to do the same. “Come back
and bring your friends to taste my secret chicken recipe. At the restaurant, we believe in letting our food
speak for us,” she said.