(TRACK 1) (BRYCE GELMAN)
WINNIE’S SOUL DELICIOUS ON MARSHALL STREET IS NOT ONLY HOME TO SOME OF THE BEST SOUL FOOD IN SYRACUSE, BUT ONE OF THE MOST WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS IN THE CITY.
LONG BEFORE OPENING WINNIE’S, OWNER DAWN EVETTE REED SOLD HER FOOD THROUGH ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
(DAWN EVETTE REED)
“I.. continued to try to uh, cook from home, selling trays out of the house. Umm. I did fundraisers, all that type of stuff but I started out from home, and then I went into the catering.”
(TRACK 2) (GELMAN)
REED BUILT A LOYAL FOLLOWING THROUGH CATERING AND EVENTUALLY DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO OPEN UP HER OWN PLACE.
ONE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN A FAN OF REED’S SINCE HER TIME AS A CATERER IS SYRACUSE RESIDENT AND WINNIE’S CUSTOMER ROMERO CROSBY. WHEN HE HEARD THAT THE RESTAURANT WOULD BE OPENING UP IN LATE 2020, HE WAS ECSTATIC.
(ROMERO CROSBY)
“When I found out she was opening up her own business I thought it was going to be great for her, and especially in this area, there’s no soul food restaurants up in this area. So, by having a soul food restaurant here, it’s great.”
(TRACK 3) (GELMAN)
FAST FORWARD EXACTLY A YEAR, AND WINNIE’S SOUL DELICIOUS IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES ON MARSHALL STREET. FOR REED, HER SUCCESS IS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF TWO THINGS.
(REED)
“Good food. And, it’s good food, and the person I am very: caring, understanding.”
(TRACK 4) (GELMAN)
IT’S THIS CARING PERSONALITY THAT HAS DRAWN IN SO MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING CUSTOMER-TURNED EMPLOYEE KRYSTAL HERNDON.
(KRYSTAL HERNDON)
“I used to be a customer. So I met her when she first opened back in December, and every time I came up here she was always nice, and always you know, warm, always a conversation. Then, she needed help, so I started working here and that’s when the relationship grew.”
(TRACK 5) (GELMAN)
WHEN SHE’S ASKED WHY PEOPLE ARE SO FOND OF HER, DAWN EVETTE REED KEEPS IT REAL.
(REED)
“I’m just a good person. I have a great heart.”
(GELMAN)
BRYCE GELMAN, NCC NEWS
SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News) – Winnie’s Soul Delicious on Marshall Street is not only home to some of the best soul food in Syracuse, but one of the most welcoming and inclusive environments in the city.
Long before opening Winnie’s, Owner Dawn Evette Reed sold her food through any means necessary.
“I continued to try to work from home, selling trays out of the house,” Reed said. “I did fundraisers, all that type of stuff but I started out from home, and then I went into the catering.”
Reed built a loyal following through catering and eventually decided it was time to open up her own place.
One person who has been a fan of Reed’s since her time as a caterer is Romero Crosby, Syracuse resident and Winnie’s customer. When he heard that the restaurant would be opening up in late 2020, he was ecstatic.
“When I found out she was opening up her own business I thought it was going to be great for her, and especially in this area,” Crosby said.
Fast forward exactly a year, and Winnie’s Soul Delicious is one of the most successful businesses on Marshall Street. For Reed, her success is due to a combination of two things.
“It’s good food, and the person I am. Very caring and understanding,” she said.
It’s this caring personality that has drawn in so many people, including customer-turned employee Krystal Herndon.
“I used to be a customer. So, I met her when she first opened back in December, and every time I came up here she was always nice, and always warm, [there was] always a conversation. Then, she needed help, so I started working here and that’s when the relationship grew,” Herndon said.
When she’s asked why people are so fond of her, Dawn Evette Reed keeps it real.
