Surviving and thriving: Daddy's Soul Food & Grille expands in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- We've done a lot of stories about events being canceled or businesses shutting down during the pandemic, but there's one Milwaukee restaurant that's clearly bucking that trend. 

Not only is Daddy's Soul Food & Grille still in operation, it's expanding. Thursday, Oct. 1, they cut the ribbon for the expansion at 27th and Wells. 

Bennie and Angela Smith opened the spot in 2014, and if you ask Bennie about why it's been successful, he'll tell you it's the food, it's the customer service and it's the atmosphere. 

"It's a great meeting place. You come here and you hear live music and it brings back that old time memory of good feelings. And the place we're in now is negativity and bad moves... We want to be uplifting," Bennie Smith. 

Daddy's Soul Food & Grill is located in the SOHI building -- 754 North 27th Street -- which has just undergone renovation of its own.