Something Strange Happened to Madre’s, a Restaurant Jennifer Lopez Opened Years Ago

Once upon a time, Jennifer Lopez was a restaurateur on top of being a renowned musician, dancer, and actress. You probably couldn’t remember it, but the celebrity opened her restaurant in 2002 — nobody hears anything about it now, so, is it still operational?

Paying homage to her roots and her mom’s cooking, Jennifer put up a Latin restaurant called Madre’s in April 2002. The grand opening was star-studded – Ben Affleck, Carmen Electra, and Nicole Kidman were among the many celebrities who graced the party.

Jennifer and Ben Affleck were dating when she opened Madre’s

If you have been following the love life of the All I Have hitmaker, this was around the height of her relationship with the Batman star, so it should come as no surprise that Ben was at the launch party. According to reports, the place had a Havana flair, and inside, you will be mesmerized with the chandeliers and petticoat-like tablecloths.

Another writer described the vibe as festive and romantic and the ambiance as pretty and girly. You can order a wide array of dishes from the menu, including steak, fried plantains, seafood, salads, and other traditional Cuban meals — courses ranged from $14 to $37.

Jennifer was inspired by her mother’s cooking

Fans initially loved the place, and many supporters of Jennifer would flock the restaurant to taste their idol’s favorites or to see any celebrity dropping by. However, Madre’s wasn’t able to sustain its traction, and by 2008, it closed its doors to the public.

TMZ attached to its report a photo of a notice plastered across the shop’s doors, although at the time, it seemed like it was just temporary. However, it didn’t reopen and only remained a memory for avid fans of the songstress.

It is unclear why Jennifer chose to shut down operations, but sources claimed she had to so she can focus on raising her twins, whom she shares with her ex-husband Marc Anthony. She gave birth to Emme and Maximilian on Feb. 22, 2008, so it only made sense that she would veer her attention to her family.

Even though her restaurant didn’t last long, at least her career flourished even more. A lot has changed after the closure, including her divorce with Marc.

Alex Rodriguez and the singer was supposed to exchange I do’s this summer

She will soon tie the knot with retired footballer Alex Rodriguez, whom she first met in 2005. They reconnected 12 years later, and sparks flew.

In March 2019, the athlete popped the question to his muse, who said yes. They were supposed to get married this summer, but because of the pandemic, the event was postponed.