Sylvia Woods facts for kids
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Woods in 2009
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| Born | Sylvia Pressley February 2, 1926 Hemingway, South Carolina |
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| Died | July 19, 2012 (aged 86) Mount Vernon, New York |
| Cooking style | Soul food |
| Spouse | Herbert Woods (1944–2001) his death |
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Current restaurant(s)
Sylvia's
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Sylvia Woods (born February 2, 1926 – died July 19, 2012) was an American restaurateur. This means she owned and managed a restaurant. She started the famous Sylvia's in Harlem, New York City. She opened it with her husband, Herbert Woods, in 1962.
Sylvia's is known for its delicious soul food. Soul food is a type of cooking that comes from the Southern United States. The restaurant became a popular spot for people living in Harlem and for tourists visiting the city. It is located not far from the famous Apollo Theater.
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Sylvia's Early Life
Sylvia was born in Hemingway, South Carolina. Her parents were Julia and Van Pressley. Sadly, her father died when she was only three days old. He passed away from injuries he got during World War I.
When Sylvia was young, she lived with her grandmother, Sylvia Johnson. Sylvia was named after her grandmother. Her grandmother worked as a farmer, and Sylvia learned about farming too. In 1930, Sylvia's mother moved to New York. She wanted to find better ways to support her family. Sylvia stayed in South Carolina with her grandmother.
Family and Career Beginnings
Sylvia met her future husband, Herbert, when she was 11 and he was 12. They met in a bean field! They got married in 1944 after Herbert moved to New York to be with her. They had four children: Van, Bedelia, Kenneth, and Crizette.
Sylvia finished high school in her hometown. She also trained to be a beautician in New York. She even ran her own beauty shop in South Carolina for a while. Before opening her restaurant, Sylvia worked in a hat factory. She also worked as a waitress at Johnson’s Luncheonette in Harlem from 1954 to 1962.
Starting Sylvia's Restaurant
Sylvia worked at Johnson's Luncheonette for about seven or eight years. When the owner decided to sell the place, he offered it to Sylvia. She bought the restaurant for $20,000. This was a big step for her and her family.
Growing the Business
In the early 1990s, Sylvia's Restaurant grew a lot. It could seat up to 450 people. The family also started a catering business. In 1992, Sylvia's son Van helped her create her own line of soul food products. These products are sold all over the country.
Sylvia's products include her special sauces, vegetables, spices, and syrup. She also made mixes for cornbread and pancakes. Sylvia wrote two cookbooks: Sylvia’s Soul Food Cookbook (1992) and Sylvia’s Family Soul Food Cookbook (1999).
The Woods family still owns and runs the restaurant today. In August 2011, they celebrated 50 years of being in Harlem. Many famous people have visited Sylvia's. These include Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Muhammad Ali, Bill Clinton, and President Barack Obama.
Later Years and Legacy
Sylvia Woods stopped working daily at the restaurant when she was 80 years old. Her children and grandchildren now manage the business. Her husband, Herbert, passed away in 2001.
Sylvia Woods died on July 19, 2012, at her home in Mount Vernon, New York. She was 86 years old. She had been ill with Alzheimer's disease for several years.
In 2014, a street corner in Harlem was named "Sylvia P. Woods Way." It is at W.126th Street and Lenox Avenue. This honors her important contributions to the community.
Awards and Special Recognition
Sylvia Woods was known as "the Queen of Soul Food." This was because her soul food dishes were so popular. The famous director Spike Lee even used Sylvia's restaurant as a filming location for his 1991 movie, Jungle Fever.
New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg planned to give Sylvia Woods an award. This was for the 50th anniversary of Sylvia’s Restaurant. Sadly, she passed away before she could receive it. A family friend accepted the award for her.
Former President Bill Clinton was one of many people who spoke at her memorial service. The service was held on July 24, 2012, and lasted two hours.
Images for kids
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Sylvia's Restaurant
