It’s been months since the popular Houston restaurant ‘Turkey Leg Hut‘ officially closed its doors. Since its shutter, founder Nakia Holmes has come forward to explain how the restaurant got started and what ultimately led to its collapse.
During a recent interview with Essence, Holmes spoke candidly about her relationship with her now ex-husband Lyndell Price. Their love story started initially as just friends but eventually transformed into a romantic relationship that led to marriage. Together, Holmes and Price founded ‘Turkey Leg Hut,’ which quickly became a very successful business. Despite the rising popularity, the restaurant was having issues going on behind the scenes. Price was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for an IRS fraud scheme, just months after the restaurant opened its doors.
“What he was incarcerated for was something that happened prior to me even knowing him,” Holmes said. “It hit me like a ton of bricks.”
After Price returned, things took a turn for the worse. According to Holmes, they often clashed due to different management styles and Price’s increasingly controlling efforts, particularly over finances. To make matters worse, the restaurant sparked controversy in 2021 after enforcing a new strict dress code, implemented by Price. The policy aimed to create a more family-friendly environment but many saw the changes as discriminatory, especially against its Black customers.
“We differed on everything. We have different management styles,” Holmes continued. “It was all his idea.”
But, outside of this, the couple was still challenged with financial issues. In 2022, US Foods sued the restaurant for $1.2 million in unpaid debt, which Holmes says stems from poor internal accounting and a heated conversation between Price and a vendor representative. Even though the situation tried to be fixed, the damage was already done. The following year, the restaurant was hit with bankruptcy, health code violations, and major debt, which later assisted with Turkey Leg Hut closing its doors for good.
Nonetheless, Holmes is choosing to remain focused on rebuilding her life and career as she continues to reflect of her personal life and the lessons she has learned.
“I’m focused on the future,” Holmes added. “I’m focusing my energy on loving those who love me.”
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