Paula Deen visits Branson for restaurant opening

Celebrity chef Paula Deen was in Branson yesterday for the opening of her new restaurant in the tourist city.

At a Labor Day ceremony, Deen cut the ribbon and met with customers to launch Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen at Branson Landing. The Southern comfort food chain announced more than a year ago its plans to enter the Branson market.

“Opening a door to a new restaurant never gets old,” Deen said in the release. “I had the opportunity to visit Branson and I knew it would be a perfect fit.”

Prior to the restaurant announcement, Deen was in Branson in 2017 to promote her book “At the Southern Table.” She became a fan of the city during the visit, officials previously said.

Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen is located in nearly 16,000 square feet of a roughly 19,000-square-foot newly constructed building at Branson Landing’s north end. Her retail store, with items including cookbooks and aprons, occupies the balance of the space, according to the release.

Branson Landing owner HCW Development Co. LLC served as general contractor for the project, with design work by BRP Architects, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. Startup costs and lease terms with HCW Development were undisclosed.

The Branson restaurant is one of six self-branded eateries owned by Deen, and it’s the first in Missouri. The family-style concept for the menu provides endless portions of dishes, including fried chicken, spare ribs and pot roast. Prices range from $10 for kids and up to $23 for adults, according to its website.