Phax Entertainment Group, LLC has taken over ownership of Booker’s Restaurant & Bar in West Philadelphia, previously owned by Saba Tedla who opened the neighborhood bistro in 2017. Tracey Syphax, CEO of Phax Entertainment Group, and his wife, Cheri Syphax, COO of Phax Entertainment Group, are now the new owners of the beloved establishment.
“As a 28-year serial entrepreneur and entrepreneurial instructor, I recognize great models and Saba Tedla has built a great model of excellent service, great food in a warm and inviting atmosphere that has made Bookers a staple go-to restaurant in the heart of West Philly,” Tracey Syphax says. “Our purchase of Bookers now opens endless possibilities for this well-known corridor. We are excited to become a member of this thriving up-and-coming neighborhood.”
“Tracey and I are excited to take over a restaurant with such a great reputation and following,” Cheri Syphax says. “I have patronized Saba since Aksum, and it is a surreal, full circle moment to own an establishment that made my transition to Philly feel like home. We will keep the menu items our regulars have come to know and love, while listening to their needs and desires for something new. We will also create dishes and cocktails that will tickle and delight their palate and look forward to serving them with the same quality and excellence they have come to expect.”
The mission of Booker’s Restaurant & Bar is to provide an “excellent product with exemplary service,” and the spirit of excellence is rooted in its name, inspired by Booker Wright, an African American waiter in Greenwood, Mississippi, who owned his own “blacks only” restaurant in the 1960s. Mr. Wright was a successful entrepreneur who spoke openly about racism, which ultimately led to his tragic demise. The legacy of Mr. Wright’s excellence, tenacity, authenticity, and perseverance lives on today at Booker’s Restaurant & Bar.
The Syphaxs’ love story intertwines with entrepreneurship as they met on a dating site, both successful entrepreneurs who were seeking a partner with similar drive and passion. “We both understand the entrepreneurial grind and the sacrifices that come with it,” Tracey says. “To have a partner that understands that and is supportive, it’s a beautiful thing.”
Their wedding weekend included brunch at the Akwaaba mansion in West Philly, a small, female Black-owned business that they wanted to support. Their love for entrepreneurship extends beyond their own businesses as they actively seek to support and uplift others in their community.
by Tony O. Lawson
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