Renowned Chef Closes Down Prestigious Eatery Known for Glory
In a surprising turn of events, legendary chef Paula Deen announced the closure of her iconic restaurant, The Lady & Sons, in Savannah, Georgia, on August 1, 2025. The decision was made jointly by Deen and her sons after nearly 36 years of operation. The closure also affects another eatery, The Chicken Box, owned by the same trio.
The Lady & Sons, first opened in 1996, has been a staple in Savannah's culinary scene, serving over 1,000 diners a day during the height of Deen's fame. The restaurant gained even more popularity as the location for many episodes of Paula's Home Cooking and Paula's Best Dishes on the Food Network. Over 200 episodes of Paula's Home Cooking were filmed at the restaurant.
In a heartfelt statement, Deen and her family expressed gratitude to their customers and staff. They provided contact information for customers with outstanding reservations, catering orders, and gift cards. Just over a week ago, they were promoting Savannah Lemonade at the restaurant.
The sudden closure comes after a series of professional struggles for Deen. In 2013, she lost her contract and several working relationships due to a racism scandal. Deen admitted to using racial slurs in a deposition for a lawsuit and later apologized, but her career never returned to the same heights.
Despite disabling comments on the post, fans have shown disappointment with sad reactions. The closure of The Lady & Sons marks a significant event in Paula Deen's career, signalling a shift in focus towards her four Family Kitchens locations around the country.
Deen's Food Network career was launched from the very walls of The Lady & Sons, and the restaurant moved to a larger location after the debut of Paula's Home Cooking on the Food Network in 2002. The Lady & Sons restaurant will be deeply missed by many, but Deen and her family remain optimistic about their future endeavours.
With the closure of The Lady & Sons, a significant chapter in Savannah's entertainment, food-and-drink, and celebrity-centric lifestyle scene is drawn to a close. As fans mourn the loss of Paula Deen's iconic restaurant, they eagerly anticipate her future endeavors, particularly in the realm of entertainment and food-and-drink, as evidenced by her four Family Kitchens locations around the country.
