Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Celebrity Owned Restaurants: Recipe for Disaster?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 19, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jul 19, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
We're just going to get this out of the way: Justin Timberlake is bringing deep-fried pickle-sicles back. The modern day song and dance man has gone and opened his very own restaurant called Southern Hospitality (at 1460 2nd Ave and 76th St). It opened last night to a crowd of A-listers people you may have heard of, hankering for some barbecue. Amongst the items offered are deviled eggs, pulled pork, mac-n-cheese, fried catfish, and yes...the aforementioned pickle treat (we hope JT took his indigestion pills last night).
One of the first reports from the frontline of the opening is scathing and comes from NYMag. Apparently there was no southern hospitality in air last night, as their reporter tells of an epically poorly run opening. JT himself was reportedly too cool to talk much to the press (we're sure in a few weeks when he has seats to fill he'll have a change of heart). However, co-owner and JT's bff assures The Post that: “We’re not trying to be trendy."
With the opening JT joins the rank of celebs who have owned eateries, the question is: will his succeed? His ex Britney Spears’ southern-flared NYLA didn't do so well, neither did the Baldwin brothers Alaia (shocking). On the other hand Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford's Sugar Bar on West 72nd has been around for 11 years. Jay-Z's 40/40 sports bar and restaurant is a success so far (despite getting bad press from time to time), and Sean Combs' Justin in the Flatiron District is still going strong, too. Outside of the music world, Timothy Hutton's PJ Clarke's has decent fare that's kept its doors open, the Jimmy Fallon-backed Mo Pitkins is thriving after opening two years ago in the East Village, and Robert De Niro's Tribeca Grill has been around for 20 years.
Check out some pictures of Southern Hospitality here, and, one from the opening of a blurry Timberlake.
Photo from the opening via The Life Files' Flickr.
Tagged
bar
barbecue
britney spears
celebrities
celebs
dance
de niro
District
doors open
east village
entertainment
fare
flatiron district
flickr
food
jay-z
jimmy fallon
justin timberlake
mo pitkins
Music
people
photos
pictures
restaurants
robert de niro
Sean Combs
sports
strike
The Life
the post
Timothy Hutton
Tribeca Grill
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
In 1972, legendary documentarian William Greaves filmed a party he threw for Harlem Renaissance luminaries. With help from his family, "Once Upon a Time in Harlem" brings that decades-old footage to theaters.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 21, 2026
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .