Eatery at center of Paula Deen controversy closes
4/4/2014SAVANNAH, Ga. — A spokesman for Paula Deen’s family has confirmed that a Georgia restaurant at the center of a lawsuit that left the celebrity chef’s reputation in shambles has closed its doors.
Spokesman Jaret Keller says in a statement that Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House in Savannah closed Thursday.
Keller says owner and operator Bubba Hiers, who is Deen’s brother, decided to close the business to explore development options for the waterfront property. Keller says a range of uses are being considered.
The restaurant opened in 2004. Deen co-owned it with Hiers, who oversaw daily operations. Former manager Lisa Jackson sued them both in 2012, saying she worked in an environment rife with racial slurs and sexual innuendo.
Savannah media, including The Savannah Morning News and WSAV-TV, first reported the restaurant’s closing Thursday.