The Brief

One of Savannah’s most famous tourist stops and a key part of Paula Deen’s rise to fame is no longer serving Southern cooking.

Deen announced Friday that she and her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen, had made the "heartfelt decision" to close The Lady & Sons — the restaurant they opened in downtown Savannah in 1996 — along with an adjacent takeout stand called The Chicken Box. The closures took place quietly at the end of service on July 31. No reason was given.

"Thank you for all the great memories and for your loyalty over the past 36 years," Deen said in a statement posted to her website and social media. "We have endless love and gratitude for every customer who has walked through our doors."

The backstory:

The Lady & Sons began as a small catering venture called The Bag Lady

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