Business is a family affair for Kevon Lewis. I recently spoke with her about Nelchie’s Cajun Cuisine and Catering, which she owns with her husband.
Tell me about your business.
Nelchie’s Cajun Cuisine and Catering was founded by Donell and Kevon Lewis on April 3, 2014. We are located at 1621 Ashville Road in Leeds, Alabama 35094 and our hours of operation are: Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
Menu items: gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, po boys (a New Orleans–styled French bread sandwich) cheeseburger, hamburger, fish, shrimp, oysters, and hot sausage. We also offer a seafood platter and have specialty menu items such as crawfish/shrimp étouffée, alligator slider, boudin sausage and boudin balls.
Why did you decide to start it?
We decided to start our business because my husband, Donell, believed that entrepreneurship would be the best option for our family, and at the time his previous job kept him away from home and it made sense for us to invest in ourselves so that I could be available for our kids.
What can patrons expect when they come to your restaurant?
Patrons can expect authentic Cajun and Creole dishes, fresh seafood, family-friendly atmosphere, friendly staff, great customer service, and smooth jazz music playing.
What’s the best business advice you have ever gotten?
The best business advice I have received has come through trial and error. No one individual has given me any business advice.
What advice do you have for others interested in starting a business?
The best advice that I can give is to do your homework. Make sure that the business you are going into is in a visible location for traffic flow, and the biggest of all advice that I can give is to check the rules, codes and regulation guidelines for that city because every city is different when it comes to codes and regulations.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?
The biggest lesson that I have learned is to get everything in writing. No matter how big or small it may be, get it in writing.
What’s next for Kevon Lewis and Nelchie’s Cajun?
Weekly live entertainment coming soon. As we do not know what the future holds for Nelchie’s Cajun Cuisine and Catering, but we are certain that as long as we please God we will have favor from the Lord on our business and business decisions.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
We started off as a food trailer and decided to use our commissary as a sit-down family-friendly eat-in environment. We still operate our food trailer and would love to have the opportunity to visit more businesses for lunch, be invited to more festivals and cater more events.
To learn more about Kevon Lewis and Nelchie’s Cajun Cuisine and Catering, call (205-490-8051), visit the website or connect on Facebook or Twitter.
