Two businesses take a hit after Wendy’s House of SOUL owner is shot with a pellet gun
Last Friday night, Wendy Puckett was shot with a pellet gun outside of K’s Grocery and Deli where her business, Wendy’s House of SOUL, is housed. As Wendy’s fights to recover, K’s owner Ousman Camara is fighting to let people know that his business is still open. Photo by Kenzie O’Keefe
By Kenzie O’Keefe Editor
As many businesses enter one of their busiest weekends of the year, a recent act of violence is keeping one beloved Northside entrepreneur on the sidelines and another seeing a significant decline in sales.
Wendy Puckett, owner of Wendy’s House of SOUL, was shot in the face as she was leaving her W Broadway Ave. business for the night on Friday, Nov. 22. Her attackers were in a car and used a pellet gun. Puckett is in stable condition awaiting surgery to remove the pellet lodged near her eye, according to Pam McCurdy, Puckett’s friend and marketing consultant for the business.
Wendy Puckett is a prominent member of the Northside small business scene. She is known for her “SOULROLLS” and generosity. On Nov. 22 she was shot in the face with a pellet gun as she left her restaurant Wendy’s House of SOUL. Photo from the North News archives
Wendy’s House of SOUL has been closed since the shooting. Puckett shares cooking duty with another chef who is coincidentally also unable to work due to a recent surgery. “The timing is horrible,” said McCurdy.
Though Puckett’s business has been closed, K’s Grocery and Deli where it is housed remains open. K’s owner, Ousman Camara says he has seen a 30-40% loss in sales since the shooting. “When the story came out, the way it was reported, it was like the business is closed temporarily. I stopped seeing a lot of people because people thoughts the business was closed,” he said. Camara asks that the community spreads the word that his business is still open.
The pellet gun shooting, which took place around 9pm last Friday, appears to have been random. “They were shooting up and down the street,” said McCurdy. “She just heard some laughter, and she turned, and got shot.”
After being shot, Puckett fell into her van, which she had been in the process of entering. “She happened to have her phone in her hand. She called 911. They were there right away,” said McCurdy.
Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson John Elder says MPD is continuing to “aggressively investigate the case.”
“We obviously look to get somebody in custody for this,” he said.
McCurdy believes there may be surveillance footage from the corridor that will assist police in finding the culprit. Elder said he could not confirm or deny that such footage exists.
If anyone knows anything, Camara says the “best route to take” is to “talk to the police.”
“A lot of people are very angry because they love us so much in the community,” he said.
Ousman Camara owns K’s Grocery and Deli, where Wendy’s House of SOUL is housed. Photo by Kenzie O’Keefe
Camara believes the incident was “isolated.” He observes less crime on the corridor now than he did when he opened his business in 2007.
“We feel very safe here,” he said.
McCurdy says Wendy’s House of SOUL has received hundreds of Facebook messages and many donations since the incident and that Wendy has been “so touched” by the support. “We are thankful for everyone’s outreach, prayers, and donations and keeping us in their thoughts. It’s really impactful when you have something traumatic happen to have that support.”
Community members interested in supporting Puckett and her business are being asked to buy a meal or use Puckett’s catering services when she reopens. In the meantime, donations via Cashapp and Venmo are much appreciated.
Wendy’s House of SOUL could reopen as soon as next week. “We just hope we can get through this and move on and make it through to the other side,” said McCurdy.
Camara says Puckett will “definitely” be back soon: “Me and Wendy, we fight through anything.”