Northeast Philadelphia resident Rose Dee Ileyemi, owner of the soon-to-open Dee'Grace Kitchen in Elkins Park, plans to open her business this summer.
“We hope to reopen by July, but it depends on the health department. We are waiting for equipment which should arrive soon,” she said. “As long as we meet all the regulations, we can reopen.”
The new restaurant will open at 7782 Montgomery Ave., the former location of Frank's Pizza, a longtime Elkins Park staple. The building has been vacant since last summer.
“It's going to be amazing. I'm very excited,” Ileyemi said.
Ileyemi, who has a culinary degree from Cincinnati State University's Midway Culinary School, said everything on the menu is made from scratch.
“It's fast food, but everything is homemade, even the sauces. Pizza, homemade fries, shrimp, pulled pork, steaks, everything is homemade,” she says. “I love cooking. Cooking is my passion. I get so excited when I'm cooking.”
The menu is still being finalized, she said.
Ileyemi, a native of Nigeria, also runs two childcare centers in Philadelphia and moved to the area from Ohio in 2019.
Her husband will help with running and maintaining the restaurant, and she plans to hire a sous chef and other staff soon.
“The good thing about a new business is that it provides new jobs for people,” she said. “We chose this area because my husband used to work at IdentiGo and couldn't find anywhere to eat around there, so we decided to start something where people could get something quick and healthy. I know the area well; I live eight minutes away.”
To learn more about DeeGrace Kitchen, check out their Instagram page, and to see more of Chef Dee's signature dishes, click here.
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Photo: Instagram
