Following up on Black-owned businesses

Pictured is Cathy Brown, owner of Edna’s Kitchen and Catering. (Photo provided)

Since Watershed Voice first ran a story last week on places people can go in and around Three Rivers to support Black-owned businesses, a couple of additional establishments have come to our attention.

Edna’s Kitchen and Catering, owned by Cathy Brown, provides food to a variety of functions. “I cook food for any event, from small dinner parties all the way up to large family reunions,” Brown said. “That’s pretty much what I do from here to Kalamazoo.” Brown said the business is named after her mother, “who was a caterer, an excellent cook, and really good with people.”

Although she is originally from Chicago, Brown has lived in Three Rivers for more than thirty years. 

“I specialize in soul foods from appetizers to dessert,” Brown said. Watershed Voice asked her what some of the foods are that she prepares. For an event with the YWCA this week, she said, “I’m doing a charcuterie board, fruit skewers, and roasted brussels sprouts.” For a recent graduation party, which Brown says are always popular this time of year, she supplied a taco bar. “I also do things like ribs, spaghetti, and gumbo.”

The menu at Edna’s Kitchen Catering is not limited to the savory. “I do desserts as well. I’m doing a bourbon bread pudding tomorrow. I can do a pound cake with strawberries, I can do a charcuterie board with dessert, and man that’s something. Homemade pound cake with fruit and ice cream.”

To inquire or schedule her services, Brown can be reached by phone at 269-718-8546, or by emailing her at [email protected]. She plans to establish an online presence as well.

Brown enjoys her work. “I really like to talk to people and find out a little bit about them and make that part of how I present the food,” she said. Her favorite parts of catering work are “meeting people and trying new recipes,” Brown said. “My motto is ‘pleasure and delight.’ Edna in Hebrew means “pleasure and delight,” and I really enjoy when people enjoy the food.

In addition to Edna’s, Watershed Voice also became aware last week of Precision Cuts, a hair cutting business which belongs to Joe Cooper, Jr. Mr. Cooper declined to be interviewed for this article.

Dave Vago is a staff writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.