Paula Deen to Open First Post-Scandal Restaurant Near Dollywood

[Purveyor]

By Nick Turner Feb 26, 2014 9:20 AM ET

Paula Deen, the celebrity chef embroiled in scandal after making racial remarks, is planning a $20 million restaurant next to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park in Tennessee.

The new business, called Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, is the first endeavor of Paula Deen Ventures, a firm created earlier this month as part of the chef’s comeback effort. The location near Dollywood in Pigeon Forge serves as a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Deen’s previous business, Paula Deen Enterprises, became mired in controversy last year over her past use of a racial epithet. The new company aims to capitalize on the chef’s still-loyal fan base by putting her name on products, food lines and other properties. Deen has sold more than 8 million copies of her cookbooks and has 1.2 million followers on Twitter.

“Together, we can develop Paula Deen retail and restaurants that capture the imagination of Paula’s massive fan base and Pigeon Forge’s huge tourist community,” Bob McManus, one of the project’s developers, said today in a statement.

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-26/paula-deen-to-open-first-post-scandal-restaurant-near-dollywood.html

[grasswire]

1. I hope there's a first rate cardiac care unit nearby.

Just sayin'.

[Dawson Leery]

3. +1

[Seeking Serenity]

2. Say what you want about her personal beliefs and actions,

hers is some dadgummed good food. I've been to her restaurant in Savannah. I dang near had to be rolled out of there like a barrel. Yuuuummmm-yyyy.

[grasswire]

6. had your cholesterol checked lately? nt

[Seeking Serenity]

7. Last September

All within the normal range. Thanks for asking.

[Iggo]

8. Okay, I will. She's fucking racist scum.

[wocaonimabi]

4. Gotta love America where a bigot can get rich selling stuff to other bigots

at least she built the place where there are plenty of customers who will have no problem giving her money.

[BeeBee]

5. I bet there'll be a line around the block. n/t

[Jefferson23]

9. Her massive fan base of racists, just like her. Disgusting. n/t

[Mr Dixon]

10. ROFL

I wonder if I can get job there, as a server of course. “Ya Suh Massa I’s a coming”

[leftyohiolib]

11. racism never tasted so good

[alp227]

12. LOLOL good luck with the free market now that your ugly side has shown, Paula. nt

[TwilightGardener]

13. Come for the scandal, stay for the arterial armageddon.

[FLyellowdog]

14. I was not impressed with her restaurant at Harrahs in Cherokee, NC.nt

[jmowreader]

15. Is she also opening a butter factory?

[bullwinkle428]

16. Maurice Bessinger, that racist BBQ guy in South Carolina, just died a couple

of days ago. I guess she figured she'd jump on that opportunity before Bessinger's body is even cold!

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/HaireoftheDog/archives/2014/02/24/maurice-bessinger-bbq-baron-and-unrepentant-racist-dies