Former Food Network star Paula Deen suddenly closes flagship Savannah restaurant

Retail·RestaurantsFormer Food Network star Paula Deen suddenly closes flagship Savannah restaurantBy Russ BynumBy The Associated PressBy Russ BynumBy The Associated Press Paula Deen.Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, FileFormer Food Network star Paula Deen announced Friday the abrupt closure of the Savannah restaurant that launched her to fame with its of fried chicken, banana pudding and other indulgent Southern dishes

Deen ran The Lady & Sons restaurant with her two sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen, for nearly three decades

But 78-year-old Deen said Friday that The Lady & Sons closed for good along with The Chicken Box, which sold takeout lunches behind the main restaurant

A statement posted on Deen’s website and social media accounts didn’t say why the restaurants had shut down. “Hey, y’all, my sons and I made the heartfelt decision that Thursday, July 31st, was the last day of service for The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box,” Deen’s statement said. “Thank you for all the great memories and for your loyalty over the past 36 years,” she said. “We have endless love and gratitude for every customer who has walked through our doors.” Deen said her four restaurants outside Savannah will remain open

They’re located in Nashville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Branson, Missouri

Windows at The Lady & Sons were covered with brown paper Friday

Signs posted at the front entrance read: “It is with heavy hearts and tremendous gratitude that we announce that we have retired and closed.” Deen’s restaurant seemed `packed’ until it closed Adrienne Morton and her family, visiting Savannah from Cincinatti, had made dinner reservations at Deen’s restaurant for 5:45 p.m

Morton said she received a text message Friday morning saying her reservation had been canceled. “I thought this must be a mistake or maybe they planned to close and we don’t here and just weren’t up to speed, but no,” Morton said. “We wish them the best

Hopefully everything turns out.” Martin Rowe works in a downtown office across the street from Deen’s restaurant

He said seemed to be going strong up until it closed. “Nobody knew anything was wrong,” Rowe said. “I walk by there two or three times a week at lunch, and it was always packed.” Deen went from nearly broke to Food Network fame in Savannah Deen was divorced and nearly broke when she moved to Savannah with her boys in 1989 and started a catering called The Bag Lady

A transcript of Deen answering questions under oath in a legal deposition became public that included Deen’s awkward responses to questions race

Asked if she had ever used the N-word, Deen said, “Yes, of course,” though she added: “It’s been a very long time.” Deen returned to television on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” on chef Gordon Ramsay’s Fox show “MasterChef: Legends,” and on Fox Nation, which began ing “At With Paula Deen” in 2020

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