New restaurant, Lula Mae’s, blends family tradition and soul food to create a memorable experience for the entire family.
By: Megan L. Horst | Photos By: Ashlee Glen
rom the outside, the building may look like any other restaurant, but when you walk through the doors, you will find that Lula Mae’s creates an atmosphere like no other. Tereika Grooms, owner, created a vibe that not only honors her family’s heritage but also welcomes families in the community to make memories together as they dine.
“My inspiration has really been my grandmother, who loved to cook,” Grooms said. “The lady would cook a four-course meal every day.”
When Grooms purchased the building, she was not sure exactly what she would do with it. She considered a barber shop or an event space, but ended up settling on a restaurant honoring her grandmother, Lula Mae, who passed away from cancer.
Her grandmother loved to cook, garden, and live the “country life.”
“My grandmother was extremely big on family,” Grooms said. “We want this place to feel like you’re coming in and sitting at your grandma’s table.” The food served is also inspired by family recipes, and her family pitches in to help prepare the food.
“My mom comes in every day and makes some of the side items from scratch—from cutting sweet potatoes, washing them, cooking them,” Grooms said. Her parents have also been a source of encouragement and inspiration to her.
“When you have parents who show up here every day, when you have those types of parents that believe and support and continue to push you and show up for you every day, I would say that’s more than enough inspiration and motivation,” Grooms said.
With soul music playing, when you walk in, you’ll not only notice the bright terracotta orange walls, but also the unique music theme, inspired by Grooms’ dad, who was a DJ. Other décor, such as photographs of her grandparents, adds special meaning to her family and creates a homey atmosphere. The small dining room, seating about 38 people, is designed to promote a fun family experience.
“When you come in, my host greets you, and you are offered a game while you wait,” she said. The board game helps encourage family interaction and making fun memories. They have everything from Monopoly, Uno, and Connect Four to Mancala, Phase 10, trivia games, and much more.
“The game allows family connections,” Grooms said. “With so much going on in the world, just simply being able to sit with your kids and your significant other and being able to play games gives them the time to do something outside of their daily lives.”
Since the opening on December 6, 2025, they have received a “phenomenal” response from the community.
“When I first opened this place up, I wasn’t sure how things would actually go,” Grooms said. “I planted the seed, I prayed about it, and it has been by far more than I expected.”
With a diverse menu that includes fish and grits, chicken and waffles, breakfast items, salads, burgers, desserts, and more, there is something for everyone. Grooms said their most popular entrée is currently the 60 West Platter.
According to their menu, the 60 West Platter: “gives you both crunchy, juicy fried chicken and flaky, golden fish sittin’ side-by-side like cousins at the cookout. Served with two fixins’ and cornbread.”
Aside from their already diverse everyday menu, they offer one-of-a-kind specials that change periodically.
“We try to keep a spin on the menu,” Grooms said. One of their recent specials was pig’s feet.
“That was a huge seller,” she said.
“We had people coming in who had never tried pig feet.”
Other specials have included salmon cakes and a variety of desserts. And for the kids, their menu offers a “Kids Corner” featuring kid-friendly options such as Chickn’ and Waffles, Hamburger and Fries, Mac N’ Cheese, and more.
Grooms believes that Lula Mae’s creates a sense of connection that welcomes everyone. The entire staff strives to make people feel accepted and at home.
“There aren’t many places you go to where you have people greeting you,” she said. “There’s nothing like Lula Mae’s in the area. We see a lot of people coming back.”
In the future, Grooms hopes to see growth—expanding to outdoor seating and possibly even a handful of food trucks. The community response to Lula Mae’s has been overwhelmingly positive, and Grooms plans to give back to the community and organizations in more ways than just serving great food.
“February 4th was World Cancer Day, and I’ve lost both of my grandmothers to cancer,” Grooms said. On that day, they donated 10 percent of the proceeds to a local cancer center.
As stated on their website: “It’s a day to come together, enjoy some great food, and help make a difference in the fight against cancer. Your meal can be part of something bigger; let’s spread hope, love, and healing together.”
They have already hosted a variety of events. On February 8, they held a Super Bowl Pre-Game special where you could stop by and enjoy their collard green dip special and 10 percent off their fan favorite—buffalo chicken dip. They’ve also had Greek days and employee days, during which they gave discounts to customers such as Lynchburg City Schools employees.
“[We want to] make people feel appreciated,” she said. They also offer military and first-responder discounts. Specials and events, along with their full menu, are posted on their website. So swing by for some family fun, grab some soul food, and don’t forget to try Nanny’s Pudding
and Sweet Potato Pie.
