Oakland’s Brown Sugar Kitchen to close, re-open as test kitchen concept

FILE-- Tanya Holland. After more than a decade as a favorite hangout for locals, tourists, rap artists and Golden State Warriors players alike, Tanya Holland’s iconic West Oakland soul food spot, Brown Sugar Kitchen, will soon cease to exist in its current form. less FILE-- Tanya Holland. After more than a decade as a favorite hangout for locals, tourists, rap artists and Golden State Warriors players alike, Tanya Holland’s iconic West Oakland soul food spot, Brown ... more Photo: Mason Trinca / Special To The Chronicle Photo: Mason Trinca / Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Oakland’s Brown Sugar Kitchen to close, re-open as test kitchen concept 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

After more than a decade as a favorite hangout for locals, tourists, rap artists and Golden State Warriors players alike, Tanya Holland’s iconic West Oakland soul food spot, Brown Sugar Kitchen, will soon cease to exist in its current form.

Holland told Inside Scoop the restaurant will close on May 18 and re-open on June 6 as Brown Sugar Test Kitchen. She plans to use the concept as a dinner pop-up space where she will also test recipes.

“It’s something we’ve even thinking about doing for a while,” Holland said.

Holland is also working on a counter-service oriented restaurant called Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter she plans to open at San Francisco’s Ferry Building later this year.

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The Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter menu will have the same spirit as its predecessor by offering signatures like chicken and waffles. Holland said the restaurant’s aesthetics will be tweaked as well.

The model is a direct response to a changing restaurant industry, Holland said. She unveiled the Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter idea in 2017 while taking over the Ferry Building’s former Il Cane Russo space.

“The current business model for Brown Sugar Kitchen just doesn’t really work anymore,” she said. “I just want to make sure what we’re doing next with Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter, we’re doing it right.”

Holland has a second Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter in the works in Uptown Oakland. The restaurant is taking shape in the 13,600 square foot space left vacant by Picán and Ozumo on Broadway. Opening dates are still in flux for both locations.

Once Holland’s Mandela Parkway space closes for its pivot, it will be the chef’s first break from the restaurant business in more than 10 years.

“It’s going to be the perfect time to work on the menu for Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter. So, maybe it isn’t really a break,” she said with a laugh. “We just want to make sure everything is perfect with Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter.”

Brown Sugar Test Kitchen: 2534 Mandela Pkwy.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips