Cincinnati, Ohio-based soul food restaurant Soul Secrets began as a way for owner/operator Candice Holloway to connect with her teenage daughter. What began as a mother passing down family recipes to the next generation soon grew into a business. The concept that grew out of that tradition serves old family recipes with a modern twist.
When it came time to design Soul Secrets' first brick-and-mortar location, Holloway turned to the team at Luminaut. Holloway’s objective was to tell the story of her family’s history. Wanting to convey the value of family heritage and her admiration for the soulful, family recipes that inspired the food that is now served, Holloway requested that the customers visually experience her family tree while also feeling a sense of drama and mood through the interior design of the space.
The result is an eye-catching mural depicting Holloway's family tree. Soul Secrets partnered with a local artist to construct portraits of Holloway's family members, resulting in individual art pieces placed throughout the space to aid in telling her story.
Project: Soul Secrets
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Project type: New build
Completion date: April 2022
Size: 1,600 square-feet
Seats: 60
Concept: Soul food
Project Team
Owner: Candice Holloway
Design: Luminaut
Contractor: Linked Solutions
Real Estate: 3CDC
Images courtesy of Luminaut
