If you grew up in the NY Tri-State area, you have heard of, or visited, Harlem’s own Sylvia’s Restaurant. Known as “The Queen of Soul Food,” Sylvia’s was founded by Sylvia Woods in 1962. Established in the historic village of Harlem, Sylvia’s is a beloved community institution, often referred to as the world’s kitchen. Serving authentic soul food for over 55 years, this icon remains a culinary must-visit for food lovers around the globe.
Sylvia’s story is one of divine positioning.
Van Pressley, Sylvia’s father, left his home in South Carolina to fight in World War I. He departed the segregated South only to enter a segregated Army, fighting for a country that did not fight for him. He returned home gravely ill from exposure to poisonous gas. Knowing his time on earth was limited, Van made a prayer pact with God alongside his young bride, Julia. The pact was simple but profound: that their unborn child would have a life easier than his, and that he would at least live long enough to meet that child.
On February 2, 1926, Sylvia Woods was born. Just days later, Van Pressley passed away.
Julia, whose own father had been lynched for a crime he did not commit, was determined to pour everything she had into raising her daughter. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Julia became a midwife and farmer. She never remarried, choosing instead to work day and night to ensure Sylvia’s future. When Julia’s mother became ill, young Sylvia began caring for her grandmother while her mother worked the fields. To this day, Sylvia recalled that as her earliest memory—fanning flies away from her grandmother, who was dying from what we now know as Alzheimer’s disease.
After her grandmother’s passing, Sylvia became both a great help and the love of her mother’s life. She began cooking eagerly at the age of six. The first dish she attempted to master was rice. Quick to do things her own way and easily distracted by play, Sylvia burned the rice. She told her mother she had been watching the pot, but Julia knew better. In that moment, Sylvia learned her first lessons in cooking, and in life: always mind your pot, and always tell the truth. Those lessons would become guiding principles on her path to success.
At age eleven, Sylvia met her beloved husband, Herbert Woods, while picking beans after school. It was a story she would tell often, her face lighting up with a childlike blush. She described Herbert as the prettiest boy she had ever seen, ripped clothing and all. The two fell in love and later married.
Drawn by the promise of opportunity, Sylvia and Herbert joined the Great Migration north, leaving the Jim Crow South behind. They arrived in Harlem in 1944. Herbert took on odd jobs while Sylvia worked in a factory on Long Island. One day, during her dreaded commute, Sylvia passed Johnson’s Luncheonette and noticed a “Help Wanted” sign. She took a chance and walked in.
Mr. Johnson asked if she had restaurant experience. Sylvia quickly said yes. He then asked her to go behind the counter and make a pot of coffee. As she approached, she remembered burning the rice as a child. She paused, then told Mr. Johnson the truth: she had been raised on a farm in South Carolina and had been cooking her entire life, but she had never worked in a restaurant. She promised him that if he gave her the opportunity, she would be his best worker.
Sixteen years later, when Mr. Johnson decided to sell the business, he offered it to his best waitress, Sylvia Woods.
The year was 1962, and the climate in America was not unlike what we witnessed again in 2020. As a Black woman, Sylvia could not secure a traditional loan. Mr. Johnson understood this reality and advised her to ask her mother to borrow against the family farm. Sylvia did, and although the value fell short, Mr. Johnson sold the 35-seat luncheonette to the woman who had become the heart of his business.
On August 1, 1962, Sylvia’s Restaurant was born.
Sylvia and her family grew the business into what it is today: a Harlem institution that has served everyone from everyday Harlemites to celebrities, heads of state, and U.S. presidents. Her parents’ prayer continues to be fulfilled as three generations of the Woods family own and operate the business. The legacy includes a national line of Sylvia’s Food Products, two successful cookbooks, an impressive real estate portfolio, and perhaps Sylvia’s proudest achievement—the Sylvia and Herbert Woods Scholarship Foundation.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Woods family also launched a Sunday food pantry in partnership with the National Action Network and CARE Organization, continuing Sylvia’s lifelong commitment to community.
Salute and happy 100th birthday to Sylvia Woods, perfectly aligned with the 100th year of Black History Month.
Photo Credit: Sylvia’s Restaurant IG
