What Happened to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles?

[00:00:00] For generations of Southern Californians, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles was more than a famous restaurant. It was part of black Los Angeles, a place where families, neighborhood regulars, musicians and celebrities gathered over fried chicken, waffles, grits and other soul food favorites. Founded by Herb Hudson In 1975, Roscoe's transformed a Harlem influenced food tradition into a West coast institution style Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole and Red Fox helped spread the word, while movies, music and President Barack Obama's famous 2011 visit carried the restaurant into popular culture. But Roscoe's legacy has become complicated. A former black employee won a racial discrimination and wrongful termination case that contributed to a multi million dollar judgment. The company managing several locations filed for bankruptcy protection in 2016 and underwent a court supervised restraint restructuring in 2024. Another longtime employee filed a proposed class action lawsuit alleging unpaid overtime and other labor violations. Those newer claims remain allegations unless proven in court. Roscoe's has also closed longtime restaurants on Pico Boulevard and in Pasadena. While questions about its current ownership and leadership continue circulating. Public records do not conclusively show that the entire chain was sol, but the company's structure remains unclear to many longtime customers. Today, Roscoe's is still serving Southern California and planning a location at Los Angeles Union Station. Its name remains powerful, but preserving that legacy will require transparency, fair treatment of workers and renewed trust from the community that made Roscoe's an institution. For the complete story, visit STM Daily News.