Words by Alyson Robinson
Chaka Khan stopped by the Upper Crust Restaurant to celebrate her 60th birthday. Her visit airs this Saturday on “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” which is the Upper Crust’s show on OWN. The St. Louis-based eatery owner, Miss Robbie Montgomery, and her staff welcomed Chaka Khan with a soulful “Happy Birthday” song, along with cake and friendly chatter.
“It’s wonderful to be able to host special occasions like this,” said Miss Robbie, who will be celebrating a birthday of her own on an upcoming episode. “This is exactly what I was thinking about when I opened up the Upper Crust a year ago.”
Sweetie Pie’s was founded after Miss Robbie’s singing career in the 1960’s, as backup singer and Ikette, ended after she suffered a collapsed lung. The weekly show depicts the management of Sweetie Pie’s at the Mangrove, Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust and the original Sweetie Pie’s. The latter was established in 1996 by Miss Robbie, who now runs it with her son, Tim.
The episode airs Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
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