Rhythm and Blues Cafe, a new restaurant in Forest Park, blends soulful live music with a menu that pays homage to Southern favorites and creates a vibrant addition to the community.

Denise Roy, co-founder of the Surf’s Up franchise, has broadened her culinary vision with the launch of Rhythm and Blues Cafe in Forest Park.

Denise and her husband, Eric Roy, originally co-founded the Surf’s Up franchise, which has since grown to 15 locations. Despite early challenges, their Oak Park location gained popularity after being featured on Chicago’s Best TV, which helped fuel the franchise’s expansion.

The idea for Rhythm and Blues Cafe emerged when the Roys discovered the previous owner was leasing out the kitchen. They decided to take over from Nola Cafe, which had a similar menu, and officially opened the restaurant in Forest Park June 29.

“We’re essentially contracting the kitchen and restaurant portion of Rhythm and Blues Cafe, making it a collaborative partnership,” Roy said.

Dwight Culbreath, the first franchise and owner of Surf’s Up Maywood, has demonstrated unwavering loyalty to the company.

 “When we decided to open this cafe, we reached out to him for a partnership. Dwight’s positive attitude and teamwork spirit made him eager to join. Our team now includes me, my husband, and Dwight, and his involvement has been instrumental, supported by the local community,” Roy said.

One of the initial challenges the Rhythm and Blues Cafe faced was discovering that Forest Park requires an entertainment license for live music. This realization forced them to cancel a planned band performance for their opening. 

“Since then, we haven’t had live music, but we’ve hosted a brunch and a boutique walk. We’re maintaining the space by allowing reservations for parties and playing music through our jukebox, taking a different approach from the start,” Roy said.

The local community has responded positively to the cafe since its opening.

“At first, many people walked in and thought it was still Nola, but we’ve revamped the place significantly. A lot of people are surprised and ask if it’s under new ownership,” Roy said.

Rhythm and Blues Cafe features nostalgic touches, such as a wall of old records, and relocated the pool table to the back since locals enjoy playing pool.

They also updated the menu to feature new items, such as the Rhythm and Blues Burger and jambalaya, while they retained some Surf’s Up favorites. 

“We still offer Hennessy wings, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, hand-cut onion rings, and our popular catfish. Now, we have a catfish sandwich and a Rhythm and Blues sampler with catfish, chicken wings and shrimp, which can be grilled or fried. At Surf’s Up, we would grill or fry the shrimp and catfish, and we continue to do that here, as well,” Roy said. 

One evening, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins and Oak Park, Michigan, Mayor Marian McClellan dined there, joined by Illinois State Senator Kimberly Lightford and some trustees. Melody Winston, a senior executive at Living Fresh Market, was also present, Roy said.

Roy said she believes Rhythm and Blues Cafe brings a unique vibe to the broader Forest Park community.

“I think it brings a different vibe to the community, attracting a crowd of people aged 30 and up who enjoy the blues. While the older crowd appreciates the blues aspect, younger people often don’t stay too long, which adds diversity to the space. It’s not just for Black people; we have a wide range of clientele,” Roy said.

One customer mentioned that he goes to Buddy Guy’s for the same music but appreciates being able to enjoy it locally at their bar without having to travel to Chicago. He said he values that it’s in the same community and offers food and beer, Roy said.

She added that they envision the restaurant hosting live blues bands and are making efforts to retain the bands they’ve hired and one of the places they’ve collaborated with is The Waterhole, which had a house band. They discovered this house band and plan to feature them, along with other local bands they aim to showcase.

“That is the goal, and I like helping different people get their moment in the spotlight. We have a venue, and we want to give local bands a place to shine,” Roy said.

The restaurant is located at 7522 Madison St.