New soul food restaurant, Everybody Eatz, opens in Bridgeport

Owner Tyre Holman said the motto of his new Bridgeport restaurant is “Where gourmet meets soul” because, he said, “after that first bite, it touches your soul.”

Everybody Eatz, 3927 Main St., is the first dine-in location from the 26-yearold Holman, who specializes in soul food. He started his business cooking out of his home in Norwalk. Sales went so well, he rented a commercial kitchen in Norwalk and eventually opened a food truck.

Holman said he grew up cooking with his mother and grandmother, so food is close to his heart. Before selling food from home, he attended ConnCAT, a nocost educational program in New Haven, to pursue culinary arts but did not finish.

“The commute from Norwalk to New Haven was not easy but that did not stop me from learning and getting the right certifications to continue my dream,” Holman said.

Holman said customers traveled to his Norwalk food truck from Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven. He felt it was “only right” to meet them in the middle.

The menu is divided by dinners — a protein with two sides — and boxes — a protein and fries. Proteins include fried chicken, fried shrimp, ribs and more. Sides include southern staples like mac and cheese, yams and more. Everybody Eatz also carries Main Squeeze, a lemonade business started by Holman’s

eighth grade nephew.

“He looks up to me and I wanted to help,” Holman said. “That’s the whole point of what I do. I want to be able to help and give people an opportunity.”

Holman said he hopes to make a difference in the community and touch people’s heart’s with his food.