Business Profile: Freda's Restaurant

Chicago Heights residents looking for a family-friendly restaurant with a choice of soul food, Cajun dishes and home-made desserts can visit Freda's Restaurant, 96 E. 24th St., right across from the railroad tracks, owned and operated by Freda Bobo.

In the mood for chitterlings? Boiled or fried, they're $9.95.  Hamhocks are $8.25.  (Add the full dinner option, and pay a little more.) Sides include collard greens, mac'n cheese, blackeyed peas and several other choices. On "The Fishing Pond" menu page, check out several Cajun seafood choices, including Seafood Jambalaya, $11.05. A slice of fruit pie is $2.75, $3.35 with ice cream. A serving of peach cobbler or banana pudding is $2.50.

The restaurant is decorated with framed art and Bible scriptures, particularly ones that mention food, such as Ecclesiastes 10:19: "A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything." 

Bobo recently took some time out from the busy schedule of an entrepreneur to talk to Chicago Heights Patch about her business.

Patch: How did you get into the restaurant business?

Bobo: I worked at J.N. Michael's, a restaurant in Matteson, for 14 years as a waitress, five years as assistant manager. I ran the cash registers, was seating people, taking the money, hauling food... well it was time for me to have my own restaurant.

Even before, when I was 16 years old, I worked for my sister's boyfriend at restaurant around 111th Street off of Vincennes, that was the first restaurants I ever worked at.

How did you find this site for your restaurant?

This used to be Mama Mary's, an Italian restaurant. The owner made 87 years old, it was her time to retire. 

What do you like about the restaurant business?

I just like it. I like cooking and serving people, feeding people, it's a blessing, I enjoy it. I'm not raising kids, got nothing else to do. My pastor was just in here, I go to Miracle Temple Faith Church in Roselawn, been there 14 years.

He drove down to Chicago? He must really enjoy coming to see you.

He didn't come to see me. He came to eat!

Why did you decide to specialize in soul food and Cajun cooking?

I like to eat it, and I like to serve it. Especially if you're born in the South like I was, I was born in Arkansas. I took care of some elderly people and they taught me how to cook Cajun style.

What is the secret of good cooking?

Just go in and do what needs to be done. Taking your time, not hurrying up and rushing to do a meal, some people try to hurry up! I like a good, slow-cooked, home-cooked meal myself.

Would you describe Freda's as a family-friendly restaurant?

Yes, I do not serve alcohol. I'm not a drinker and I don't care to sell it. Yes, it's family-friendly.

What's your favorite meal?

Smothered chicken with rice and gravy. Peach cobbler for dessert. I make it here from scratch. 

What's your advice to other restauranteurs?

I went to school first, got my sanitation certificate from Harold Washington College. Get your food service license. That's the first step.

What are your hours of operation?

I'm closed Monday, but open 9 (a.m.) to 9 (p.m.) the rest of the week. 

That sounds like a long week!

I don't have anything else to do.

PLEASE VISIT the Freda's Restaurant listing in the Patch Places directory for more information.