More Than a Meal: The Real Legacy of Kiki's Chicken and Waffles
Since opening their doors in 2012, Kiki's Chicken and Waffles has become a staple for Southern cuisine in Columbia, South Carolina. But whether it's their red velvet waffle or their flavorful seasoned chicken, what's on the menu has never been the whole story. With the recent announcement of the closure of their Bower Parkway location, now feels like the right time to shine a light on their impact on the community.
Opinions about Kiki's run the full spectrum in Columbia. But what isn't up for debate is what they've given this city. They've been a table for politicians, a home for the arts, and a business that gives back to the very community that it serves. For me, that community included the artists they made room for.
In 2012, I was stepping into a new chapter as an artist – that same year, Kiki's was opening their doors. Around 2014, when the guitar was still new to me, they gave me a stage. Those performances led to future bookings and opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise.
Fast forward to 2016 — I was producing a live music event called the Classic Jam Session that needed a home. Not only was it a stage for musicians, but it was a space for local vendors, live painters, and people in the community looking for a good time in a welcoming environment. Kiki's welcomed us with open arms, even opening outside their normal hours to accommodate us. What started there helped plant the seed for the jam sessions and music movements that would follow in the city.
Image Source: Ty Williams
But music was never the only thing Kiki’s made room for. It’s been a place for family gatherings, for community members watching debates and election results, for politicians to come and meet the very people that they vow to help and serve — a place for the famous and everyday people alike. When people visit Columbia — whether they're passing through or making a point to stop — Kiki's is the go to. The guest list alone speaks volumes: gospel legends Kim Burrell and James Fortune, political figures Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, football legend Deion Sanders, and Columbia's own Dawn Staley, head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks.The range says everything — faith, politics, entertainment, sports. Everyday Columbia natives and national figures, all at the same tables, eating the same food.
This is not an accident, but rather the continuous efforts of an establishment that has always made room for its patrons. Kiki’s curated a culture that extends well beyond the dining room.
During the holidays, they've paid for strangers' groceries. They've quietly shown up for healthcare workers during appreciation weeks. They've supported high school sports teams and youth programs across the community. They've partnered with local organizations on giveback nights, where a percentage of sales goes directly back to causes in the city. The giving is consistent, varied, and rarely loud about itself.
This is what community investment actually looks like. Just steady, unglamorous generosity from a business that understands it is part of something larger than itself.
Through all the noise, this is what remains true — and that's the kind of legacy worth writing about.
The next time you visit Kiki's Chicken and Waffles, know that you're walking into more than a restaurant. You're walking into nearly fourteen years of community. This is their real legacy – and it deserves to be honored.
Thank you, Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles, for providing a platform for myself, artists across many art forms, and entrepreneurs at a time when venues catering to R&B music, Black art, and Black Businesses in Columbia were few and far between.
