Paula Deen Closes Last Georgia Restaurants After 36 Years

Celebrity chef Paula Deen has abruptly closed her iconic Savannah restaurants, The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box, after 36 years of operation. The decision, made with her sons Jamie and Bobby, was announced on social media with expressions of gratitude to customers and staff but without explanation for the closures. The Lady & Sons was a beloved Southern comfort food destination and played a significant role in launching Deen's fame and Food Network career, which was later impacted by a 2013 racism scandal. Despite closing her last Georgia location, Deen continues to operate four other restaurants under the Paula Deen's Family Kitchen brand in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Missouri, with plans to focus more attention on these venues. Visitors to Savannah were surprised by the sudden shutdown, with some reservations canceled at short notice. The closure marks the end of Deen's restaurant presence in Georgia but not her broader culinary enterprises.