The Shocking August Announcement That Stunned Savannah
The news hit like a thunderbolt on August 1st, 2025, when Paula Deen announced Friday the abrupt closure of the Savannah restaurant that launched her to fame with its menu of fried chicken, banana pudding, and other indulgent Southern dishes. Visitors who had already made reservations for that evening received unexpected text messages canceling their dinners. Adrienne Morton and her family, visiting Savannah from Cincinnati, had made dinner reservations at Deen’s restaurant for 5:45 p.m. Friday. Morton said she received a text message Friday morning saying her reservation had been canceled.
The restaurant that had become a pilgrimage site for Southern food lovers now had brown paper covering its windows and signs reading “It is with heavy hearts and tremendous gratitude that we announce that we have retired and closed”. For nearly four decades, The Lady & Sons had been synonymous with Paula Deen’s brand, but now it was just another empty building in downtown Savannah.
From The Bag Lady to Culinary Empire
Deen was divorced and nearly broke when she moved to Savannah with her boys in 1989 and started a catering business called The Bag Lady. After her parents died and her marriage failed, Paula found herself battling agoraphobia and facing near homelessness. With her boys in their teens and her family near homelessness, Paula took her last $200, reached deep inside her soul, and started The Bag Lady, a home-based catering company that marked the start of Deen’s professional cooking career.
With sons Jamie and Bobby delivering “lunch-and-love-in-a-bag,” beginning in June 1989, Paula turned around her life by sharing what she knew best—traditional Southern cooking. This humble beginning would eventually grow into a multimillion-dollar empire that made Paula Deen a household name across America.
The Rise Through Best Western to Downtown Glory
Following the success of Deen’s home-based business she took over the restaurant in the Best Western, Abercorn Street, Savannah in 1991 and called it The Lady. This transitional period allowed Paula to test her restaurant concept while building a loyal customer base. The cramped hotel restaurant space couldn’t contain the growing demand for her comfort food classics.
After nearly eight months of renovations and being overdrawn on both bank accounts, The Lady & Sons opened its doors Downtown on January 8, 1996. The move to downtown Savannah marked a pivotal moment in Paula’s career, transforming her from a small-time caterer into a legitimate restaurateur with serious ambitions.
Building the Perfect Southern Restaurant Experience
The restaurant soon had lines out the door and served roughly 1,100 diners per day at the height of Deen’s popularity. The success wasn’t just about the food – it was about the experience Paula created. With the move in 2003, The Lady & Sons went from 85 seats to nearly 330 seats in the new location at 102 W Congress St.
The new building is a renovated 200-year-old three-story building plus basement with 15,000 square feet of dining, full-service bar, and office space. This expansion came at the perfect time, just as Paula’s television career was taking off on the Food Network, creating a symbiotic relationship between her TV fame and restaurant success.
The Critical Recognition That Changed Everything
A USA Today food critic awarded The Lady & Sons his “meal of the year” in 1999. This recognition catapulted the restaurant from local favorite to national destination. In 1999, USA Today food critic Jerry Shriver named The Lady and Sons “International Meal of the Year”.
The timing couldn’t have been better – Savannah was experiencing a tourism boom thanks to the popularity of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” and Paula’s restaurant became a must-visit destination. Food enthusiasts from across the country began making pilgrimages to experience her famous buffet and signature dishes firsthand.
The Food Network Fame That Transformed Southern Cooking
The network liked it, and eventually gave Deen her own show, Paula’s Home Cooking, which premiered in November 2002. The show’s success created an unprecedented feedback loop – television viewers became restaurant customers, and restaurant success fueled more television opportunities. Deen moved her Savannah restaurant to a larger building nearby the year after The Food Network debuted “Paula’s Home Cooking” in 2002. Filmed mostly in her home kitchen, Deen taped more than 200 episodes over the next decade.
Paula’s folksy charm and butter-laden recipes resonated with millions of Americans hungry for authentic Southern comfort food. Her restaurant became the physical manifestation of everything viewers loved about her television personality – warm hospitality, generous portions, and unapologetically indulgent cuisine.
The 2013 Scandal That Shattered an Empire
In June 2013, Deen was sued by Lisa Jackson for racial and sexual discrimination. Jackson said that Deen made derogatory remarks regarding African Americans. During her deposition, Deen said she had used the N-word before. (“Yes, of course,” she said when a lawyer asked, per TMZ.) The revelation sent shockwaves through the culinary world and beyond.
Within days, Deen had lost deals, contracts, and partnerships with Walmart, Target, Home Depot, QVC, Sears, JCPenney, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Smithfield Foods, and Ballantine books. On June 21, 2013, the cable channel announced it would not renew Deen’s contract, following the news that the chef and restauranteur admitted to using racial epithets in the past.
The Loyal Fans Who Never Left
Loyal fans visiting Savannah continued to line up for Deen’s buffet long after the Food Network canceled her show, “Paula’s Home Cooking,” in 2013. Despite the media firestorm and corporate boycotts, The Lady & Sons remained packed with devoted customers who refused to abandon their beloved Southern food destination. He said business 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”.
The restaurant’s enduring popularity proved that Paula had built something deeper than celebrity – she had created a genuine connection with people who saw her as family. These weren’t just customers; they were disciples of Southern hospitality who believed in Paula’s redemption story.
The Final Chapter Written in August Heat
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. “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.
A statement posted on Deen’s website and social media accounts didn’t say why the restaurants had shut down. The mystery surrounding the closure only added to the shock felt by employees, customers, and the broader Savannah community who had witnessed The Lady & Sons become an integral part of the city’s identity.
The Heartfelt Goodbye Message
In her farewell statement, she expressed deep gratitude: “We have endless love and gratitude for every customer who has walked through our doors. We are equally grateful to our incredible staff — past and present — whose hard work, care, and hospitality made The Lady & Sons what it was”. The message carried the weight of nearly four decades of memories, relationships, and shared meals.
“Thank you for all the great memories and for your loyalty over the past 36 years” – these words encapsulated the deep emotional connection Paula felt with her customers. For many, The Lady & Sons wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a place where families celebrated milestones, tourists experienced authentic Southern culture, and Paula Deen’s American dream played out in real time.
The Business Empire That Continues
Paula Deen said her focus would shift toward her remaining Family Kitchen locations in Branson, Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, and Nashville. While Deen’s Facebook post did not provide a reason for the closure, she confirmed that the four other Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen locations in Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Nashville and Branson will still be in operation.
“We’re excited to continue visiting these restaurants regularly, starting with Branson on August 8th,” the message signed “Love & Best Dishes” by Deen and her two sons concluded. Despite the closure of her flagship location, Paula’s restaurant empire continues to operate across multiple states, serving her signature dishes to new generations of Southern food enthusiasts.
The Financial Reality Behind the Closure
Celebrity Net Worth reported her net worth at $12 million, reflecting a career with more than one major challenge. While Paula rebuilt her brand after the 2013 scandal, the closure suggests that even successful restaurants face ongoing challenges in today’s market. The decision to close came despite apparent strong business, raising questions about the true reasons behind the sudden shutdown.
Reports say she went from a $17 million fortune to filing for bankruptcy with only $7.5 million left by 2017 as the dust settled. The financial impact of the 2013 controversy clearly had long-lasting effects on Paula’s business empire, despite her apparent recovery and continued operations.
