Since opening her restaurant, Chubby Chicks, in December 2024, Shakeira Turner—better known online as Chef Keira—has faced some tough challenges. Despite her excitement about launching her eatery in Philadelphia’s Center City, she claims she’s been dealing with harassment and bullying from the local community.
Instead of a warm welcome, Turner says she’s had to deal with complaints sent to her landlord and even disturbing incidents like stolen signs and water flooding her basement. She’s been hoping to stay in the neighborhood, but has said it’s been hard to feel accepted.
Turner, who also wrote the book Recipes From a Chubby Chick, has poured everything into this restaurant. She even shared a story about finding a rodent left at the front door, adding to the frustration. One of the hardest moments for her was a confrontation with a local who allegedly told her, in not-so-subtle terms, that she didn’t belong there, which really hurt.
Along with these personal attacks, Turner says she’s gotten several complaints about her restaurant from the community, criticizing her patrons and the atmosphere. Despite this, since speaking up about the harassment, she’s been overwhelmed with support. In a recent Instagram video, Turner thanked everyone who’s come out to support her, and she made sure to highlight that neighboring businesses, like Hi-Lo Taco and Scoop DeVille, have been nothing but supportive. She hopes her supporters will show the same love to them and avoid any negative impact on their businesses.
