Closings

Kikafulo Brazilian Restaurant Closes in Palms

Kikafulo
Kikafulo Photo: Tatiana Arbogast

Kikafulo, the Brazilian restaurant and dance-hall that sprung from the ashes of Zabumba in 2011, is now closed in Palms, its bright green, stand-alone space sporting an “Available” sign. The shutter is more than just a loss for the Little Brazil neighborhood that lies along a few western blocks of Venice Blvd., marking another sad footnote in the tragedy of slain owner Monica Beresford-Redman (née Burgos).

A destination for samba, salsa, and reggae fans and a hub for the Brazilian community’s transplants, Zabumba thrived as the proud passion project of this Rio native. In 2010, Beresford-Redman was found killed while on vacation in Cancun, Mexico with her husband, former Survivor producer Bruce Beresford-Redman, who was extradited to Mexico last year to be tried for murder in the case.

After a prolonged struggle to gain control of the property, one of Monica’s sisters, Carla, reopened the club as Kikafulo in 2011, with the intention of honoring both her memory and its days as a local draw for dancers. For now, that chapter is closed, while Bruce Beresford-Redman awaits trial.

Kikafulo Brazilian Restaurant Closes in Palms