Is 'Lady and Sons' closure the final curtain for celebrity chef Paula Deen’s empire?

Celebrity chef Paula Deen, once one of the biggest names on the Food Network, has announced the closure of her flagship Savannah restaurant, Lady and Sons. After 36 years in business, the iconic spot, which she ran with her two sons, has officially served its last meal. Its companion takeout counter, The Chicken Box, also shut down alongside the main restaurant, with July 31 marking their final day.

The 78-year-old Southern cooking star broke the news on social media, where she expressed her gratitude to the diners and staff who helped shape the restaurant’s legacy. “Thank you for all the great memories and for your loyalty over the past 36 years,” the family wrote. “We are equally grateful to our incredible staff, past and present, whose hard work, care, and hospitality made The Lady & Sons what it was.”

By the following day, passersby in downtown Savannah found the restaurant’s windows covered in brown paper, with a sign on the door confirming the closure. The moment struck a bittersweet chord for many locals, as Lady and Sons had long been considered a culinary landmark, often drawing tourists eager to experience Deen’s take on classic Southern comfort food.

Deen’s rise to fame began in Savannah, where she first launched The Bag Lady before transforming Lady and Sons into a nationally recognised hotspot. The restaurant once earned USA Today’s ‘meal of the year’ award and became a cornerstone of her celebrity brand, helping her transition into television, cookbooks, and a culinary empire.

Despite closing the restaurant that helped make her a household name, Deen made it clear her career is not over. She confirmed that her Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen locations in Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, and Branson will continue to operate, with plans for her to make regular visits. Still, the loss of Lady and Sons feels like the end of an era for Savannah’s food scene, with fans online sharing memories of family meals and trips centred around the restaurant.