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NATCHEZ – Even with its small start, Chef Jarita Frazier-King believes the grand re-opening of her restaurant Soul Fusion to be the start of something big, she said.

On Friday, July 12, King opened her doors and welcomed everyone in for the grand re-opening of Soul Fusion, which houses the Soul Fusion cafe, Rod’s Grill and Chill restaurant, Natchez Heritage School of Cooking, and much more — all carefully packaged at 408 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.

King’s Soul Fusion venture started in June of 2019 with the opening of her heritage cooking school, but COVID-19 took its toll as it had with many other businesses throughout the country.

King said Soul Fusion is more than just a restaurant. It’s a place of growth for those who cook or desire to learn how she said.

“While this might be a restaurant, there are many (other) things that it is,” King said. “We will be holding a number of different classes for anyone willing to come down, whether it is our signature wine-tasting class or the different soul-inspired cooking classes that we hold. It is our goal to help anyone who needs it.”

King is a native Natchezian and a two-time graduate at Alcorn State University. As the owner of the Natchez Heritage School of Cooking and the creator of Natchez’s Soul Food Fusion Festival, King is no stranger to good food and community. 

With an array of different opportunities opening up for King and the team at Soul Fusion, they see this grand opening as the beginning of many beginnings. 

“It has been a long-time dream of mine to be able to maintain a spot that can house a community like this. There have been many people as well as businesses in each of our lives that didn’t get the chance to even make it through COVID. So we’re thankful that we have been able to make our way through with our heads held high.”