PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The “Queen of Southern Cuisine,” Paula Deen is bringing a taste of Savannah to the Smoky Mountains just in time for warm weather. Today, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen announced it will open its doors serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner beginning Monday, April 27.
Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen will be located on the Island in Pigeon Forge, which is the gateway community for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pigeon Forge is also home to the famed Dollywood theme park.
“Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen is filled with love and mouthwatering flavors,” Deen said. “I can hardly wait to bring some of my favorite Southern dishes from my Savannah restaurant, The Lady & Sons, to the Great Smoky Mountains. We are going to serve our meals family style, with big ol’ bowls on the table, heaping full of fried chicken, collards, fried okra, corn and sweet potatoes. Plus, it’s a bonus to be Dollywood’s neighbor!”
At nearly 20,000 square feet, the new location on The Island in Pigeon Forge is home to both Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen and The Paula Deen Store. When guests step inside the 4,000 square foot store, it will feel like they’ve walked into Deen’s home, complete with a replica of her kitchen for special events, samplings and personal appearances. In the store, guests will be able to purchase Deen’s products, including cookbooks, linens, aprons, utensils, cookware, food products and gifts for the entire family.
Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen features 300 seats providing each guest a front row seat to The Island Show Fountain and a panoramic view of the Great Smoky Mountains in the distance. Guests can also enjoy the centerpiece of the Island in Pigeon Forge, the 200-foot Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, an observation wheel attraction reminiscent of the famed London Eye.
The restaurant will provide more than 200 jobs to the area as well as sales tax revenue that will boost the local economy in Sevier County. Positions include executive chefs, managers, line cooks, prep cooks, bakers, dishwashers, bussers, bartenders, servers, hosts and retail sales associates.
Deen’s restaurant will join other hospitality and retail leaders, such as Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Hotel, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery and more than 60 other shops and attractions on The Island in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
For more information about Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, please visit http://www.pauladeensfamilykitchen.com.
About The Island
The Island in Pigeon Forge is a new retail and entertainment center in the heart of the town. It features restaurants, shopping, attractions and a 200-foot-high observation wheel, The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, offering spectacular views of the Great Smoky Mountains. The stunning Island Show Fountain dazzles guests, especially at night when the fountains feature beautiful light shows. There is live entertainment daily.
The Island offers eateries, attractions and shops such as: Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Restaurant, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery, Build-A-Bear, Sweet Candy Shop, Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Island Yogurt, The Fudgery, Poynor’s Pommes Frites, Timberwood Grill, Mellow Mushroom Express, Dude’s Daiquiris, Arcade City, The Flying Horse Carousel, The Euro-Bungy Jump, The Island Trading Post and Miner's Gems & Fine Jewelry. The Margaritaville Island Hotel, a four-star property, opened in October.
The Island in Pigeon Forge is open 10 a.m.-midnight daily. Store hours vary by business.
About Paula Deen
Paula Deen Ventures (PDV) partners with world-class product lines and food manufacturers to deliver great products to her fans. Paula Deen has sold over 11 million copies of her 14 cookbooks. Deen’s first live tour, “Paula Deen Live!” commenced in June 2014, and featured cooking demonstrations, games, and stories with Paula and her fans. In September 2014, PDV launched the “Paula Deen Network," a subscriber-based interactive digital experience that broadcasts a variety of exclusive content featuring Paula anytime, anywhere. She showcases her signature Southern dishes and simple, healthy meals in a fun, unscripted format on a daily basis with all-new recipes, episodes and cooking tools. The Lady & Sons, the Savannah, Georgia restaurant Paula founded with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen, remains one of the country’s most popular regional restaurants. On March 11, 2015, Paula launched her first free mobile game, Paula Deen’s Recipe Quest. In April 2015, she will open her new restaurant, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, in Pigeon Forge, TN. In May 2015, PDV will debut Paula’s podcast, Get Cooking with Paula Deen, and radio show, What’s Cooking with Paula Deen. In Summer 2015, Paula will launch her new Premium Select Dog Food, pet accessories and treats with Hugs pet products. In Fall 2015, PDV will release Paula’s new cookbook, Paula Deen Cuts The Fat. Also in 2015, Paula will release her new and classic Paula Deen Home furniture collection with Universal. Deen’s robust social media following includes Facebook (4.5 million likes), Twitter (1.3 million followers) and Pinterest (267,777 followers). Paula Deen Ventures is headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, with offices in New York.
