ABOUT ME & HOW IT ALL STARTED
I am history, not just Black history, not just woman history, but HISTORY. Many of you know me as Jj Cooks. Born Tyleata Jones, Jan 3 1986 ( Same year President Ford issued the first message on the Observance of Black History Month.In 1986, Congress created "National Black (Afro-American) History Month" by law and called upon the president to make an annual proclamation). Born and raised in Salisbury Maryland ( Originally settled as an outpost of Lord Baltimore's, Salisbury's location was chosen because the Wicomico River was the ONLY navigable waterway leading to the Chesapeake Bay. )
I always had a passion for cooking, music and people. Fast forward 21 years later. Atlanta Georgia (known as the birthplace of the civil rights movement in America). I studied music while performing at some of Georgia's hottest clubs doing my own music. I graduated and received a certificate in Music. From there I went on to further my education at Le Cordon Bleu (Founded in 1895, Le Cordon Bleu was one of the first modern cooking schools.
I moved to Lexington Nc in 2017 (World Famous Barbecue, Award-Winning Wines, NASCAR History, Fine Art, and Historic Uptown. Located in Davidson County in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, Lexington is known as “The Barbeque Capital of the World”.).
I had my first and only child a son. Having no job, I decided to cook Sunday dinners and feed the community, just a way for everyone to taste my food and be able to help the community. They told me my vision was too big for this city and that maybe I would be fair better in a bigger city, such as Charlotte or Raleigh. Determination to do it in Lexington, because there were no Soulfood or Black owned restaurants here, I kept praying and pushing forward. Working 2 jobs on Dec 15, 2020( In the mist of a national pandemic Covid 19) with no loans, in one of Lexingtons staples John Wayne's Bbq), I opened Jj's Mama's Soulfood LLC. Through Trials and Tribulations, Racism, People telling me I was crazy for during this now, Vandalism to my building, fighting against the City of Lexington with my deposit for my power, minimal help from organizations that are designed to help minorities and small businesses, and various other road blocks I encountered through this process. Fast forward to the present. Not Only Did I Make History, here In Lexington Nc, I Am History. The restaurant is located at 601 West 5th Ave, Lexington, nc. Stop by and enjoy a meal made with so much love while reminiscing of the good old days about the ones who kept the family together. Jjs Mama's Soulfood won best fried chicken in Davidson County and Best lunch.
Soulful Meals
Community Events
