U.S. Sen. Ed Markey chats with Soleil owner Cheryl Straughter while police advisor William Broderick looks on.
Owner Cheryl Straughter had brought in a contractor to build out a bar, catering business was up, and the Bolling Building, where her eatery is located, provided a steady stream of lunch customers.
On Sunday, Straughter stood on the sidewalk outside Soleil speaking with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, who toured black restaurants and bars that afternoon.
Straughter was joined in Nubian Square by District 7 Tavern owner Royal Smith, and the two walked to Darryl’s Corner Bar where they met with owner Nia Grace and Wally’s Café owner Frank Poindexter.
Even with outdoor seating, neither Straughter nor Grace will be able to make up for the much larger interior seating spaces their restaurants normally rely on, nor for the catering business that Straughter has lost.