Madiba Restaurant Closes After Nearly 20 Years In Fort Greene

FORT GREENE, NY — A longtime South African eatery in Fort Greene shuttered over the weekend after nearly two decades in business because of rising rents in the neighborhoods, the owner announced.

The neighborhood fixture Madiba closed it's 195 Dekalb Ave. eatery, which served up South African dishes like oxtail stew and bobotie, on Sunday after struggling to keep the doors open for years.

"We've seen a neighborhood change right in front of our eyes, which has resulted in the displacement of many residents who can no longer afford the growing rent or new mortgage costs," Henegan wrote in an announcement of the closing on the restaurant's website.

"We, including my family, would like to personally and warmly thank each and every one of you, all of whom have been central to our success but also to our unwavering commitment to the community, both internationally and locally."

Henegan did not respond to a request for comment from Patch on the closing.

Madiba, named after Nelson Mandela, first open its tiny Fort Greene location in 1999 and became popular as the only space in Brooklyn serving up South African cuisine. The eatery later tried to expand to a larger Harlem location in 2014 but closed it down within a year, the Brooklyn Paper reported.

The closing of the Harlem outpost, along with Henegan's other spots in Miami and North Carolina, added to the owner's money troubles and he nearly closed its doors in 2015, Forbes reported.

Henegan launched an Indiegogo campaign to save the spot that year to help pull him out of financial ruin caused by the closings, a $200,000 debt to "loan sharks," a tax issue and the inability to get a new lease from the landlord, according to Forbes.

Madiba was saved in 2016 after Henegan successfully raised $20,000 from the campaign along with $10,000 from private donors, DNAinfo reported. However, the funds weren't enough to keep the staple in business.

"It has been a privilege to have had such a rewarding experience to serve you, and to add to the economic growth of Brooklyn by providing jobs for so many families — many of which were immigrants, just like me," Henegan wrote.

Image: Google Maps