Paula Deen closing of Savannah restaurants came as a shock to locals and fans alike when the iconic Lady & Sons and its take‑out sibling, The Chicken Box, shut their doors on July 31, 2025, ending a beloved chapter in Southern comfort food history.
Paula Deen closing Savannah restaurants: What happened?
In an emotional announcement made on August 1, 2025, Paula Deen and her sons, Jamie and Bobby, revealed that Thursday, July 31, 2025, was officially the final day of service for both The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box in Savannah’s historic district. No formal explanation was provided, but Deen expressed heartfelt gratitude:
“Thank you for all the great memories and your loyalty over the past 36 years…”
The Lady & Sons, founded in 1996, launched Paula Deen’s career and became a key tourist magnet, serving up signature dishes like Southern fried chicken, banana pudding, and collard greens. At its peak, the restaurant fed around 1,100 diners per day and was even named a “meal of the year” by USA Today in 1999.
Paula Deen is closing Savannah restaurants and shifting to Tennessee.
With the Savannah locations shuttered, the Deen family will be focusing attention on their Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen chain, which currently operates in Nashville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Branson, Missouri. They plan to personally visit those destinations, starting with Branson on August 8.
Impact on staff, community, and tourism
The closures caught many off guard. Former employees reported receiving email notices early in the morning, with less than 24 hours’ warning before losing their jobs. Some described the severance packages as minimal and were advised to seek unemployment assistance soon after. One staffer lamented that the closure felt “incredibly disrespectful” after years of loyalty.
Regular visitors and Savannah locals also expressed disbelief. Tourists whose reservations were canceled at the last minute said they assumed it was a mix-up. Nearby workers reported the restaurant had always seemed busy, with no signs of trouble.
Paula Deen’s legacy: How it all started in Savannah
Paula Deen’s culinary journey began in Savannah in the 1990s. After transferring there in 1989, she launched a catering business called The Bag Lady while struggling financially.
Why now? Deen’s pivot toward the Family Kitchen model
Industry observers suggest this represents a strategic turn, using Deen’s logo to move closer to a scalable restaurant brand with a national reach. Operating in destinations geared for vacationers, like Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, and Branson, may additionally provide extra boom and profitability even as fending off the unpredictability of a single flagship operation.
Deen’s public statement reinforced this shift:
“We will now focus our attention on the four Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen locations across the country…”
What this means for Paula Deen and her fans
While The Lady & Sons in Savannah is now part of history, Paula Deen remains active. She continues to engage fans through her YouTube channel (with over half a million subscribers) and appearances on shows like At Home With Paula Deen on Fox Nation, MasterChef: Legends, and Dancing With the Stars.
As for Savannah, while tourists may miss its signature buffet and Southern charm, the city’s vibrant culinary scene continues to expand—new restaurants and festivals are keeping its food culture alive and evolving.
