Naija Wife Kitchen, the Nigerian-American fusion restaurant that earned chef-owner Tahnee Francis a James Beard Foundation semifinalist nod for Best Chef: Southwest in 2025, will close its downtown Oklahoma City location on Sept. 25.

Francis announced the closure on social media Aug. 21, citing "circumstances beyond my control," The Oklahoman reported. She did not elaborate on the specific cause.

The restaurant operates at 119 Robinson Ave. inside the Robinson Renaissance food court. Francis opened her first brick-and-mortar downtown in October 2021 after building a following through pop-up events around the city, then moved to the Robinson Renaissance in February 2023.

An Oklahoma City native who spent much of her life in Texas before returning home, Francis didn't learn to cook until she married her Nigerian husband at age 30, she said in a Downtown OKC profile published in February. She described cooking as an "accidental career" and built a fully gluten-free and dairy-free menu featuring stews and swallows, spicy suya wings, jollof rice and fried plantains.

The recognition came fast. After the 2025 James Beard semifinalist honor, Francis was invited to cook at the 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards in Chicago. She also catered multiple times for the University of Oklahoma football team and sponsored meals for people in need during a federal government shutdown.

In her closure announcement, Francis wrote that she had started "from nothing, with literally nothing" and grew rapidly with community support. "I didn't just sell food to the community after returning back to my hometown after 23 years," she wrote. "I became part OF the community."

She invited customers to visit during her final month: "Y'all don't forget to come celebrate with me during this last month I'm open. I need my hugs."

Local food writer Greg Horton suggested on Facebook that the closure had been anticipated since Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings purchased the Robinson Renaissance building in July 2024, writing that all food court tenants were expected to be affected. The Oklahoman's reporting did not confirm that account.

Francis's closure comes as downtown OKC's restaurant scene has drawn national attention. Downtown restaurants Nonesuch, Later Bye and Plus254 all received 2026 James Beard semifinalist nods, and chef Andrew Black of Grey Sweater won a James Beard Award in 2023.

Francis has not announced whether she plans to reopen elsewhere. Naija Wife Kitchen's last day of service is Sept. 25.