PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Relish, a West Oak Lane jazz lounge and community hot spot on Ogontz Avenue, has officially closed.
“It's a really sad situation, that was the spot,” said Shiz, a regular at the lounge.
He says the value that Relish brought to Ogontz Avenue can’t be replaced.
Ben Bynum Jr. opened Relish with his brother Robert in 2009.
It was a place where neighbors like Christina Sutton and Shiz could enjoy friends, good conversation and even better food all while sitting side by side with local politicians like Rep. Dwight Evans, who founded Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation, the community group that owns the building.
Evans says the restaurant became a town square.
“They were valuable asset … to Philadelphia and the states connection as well as the nation,” he said.
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He added that Relish had the ability to attract people from all over – governors went there, mayors, and the president and vice president even went there with former Gov. Tom Wolf.
Shiz said, of course, he’ll miss the big-name visitors, but what he’ll miss the most is the delicious soul food, live music and Eagles games.
“Now we have to find another spot,” Shiz said. “I don’t want them to leave. Don’t leave. We don’t need another spot, we need y’all to stay.”
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Ben and Robert haven’t yet disclosed why they decided to close the restaurant, but Evans and community members say they're looking forward to seeing what the Bynum brothers have planned next.
“The owners, wherever they’re going, I’m following,” Sutton said.