HOUSTON – In this timeline, we explore the legal sagas and controversies surrounding the Turkey Leg Hut, a once-popular restaurant in Houston.
The restaurant officially closed its doors on Nov. 22, 2024, after a federal judge allowed the property’s landlord, CNPH Properties, LLC, to proceed with foreclosure on the building at 4830 Almeda Rd.
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Since its opening in 2017, the Turkey Leg Hut—founded by Lynn Price and Nakia Holmes—quickly gained fame not just among locals, but also with tourists and celebrities, thanks to its iconic turkey legs and vibrant atmosphere. It became a beloved Third Ward staple, known for long lines and generous portions.
But behind the crowd-pleasing dishes, the restaurant was dealing with mounting financial and legal troubles that eventually caught up with it.
Timeline of events surrounding the Turkey Leg Hut:
November 2019:
Neighbors of the popular restaurant Turkey Leg Hut filed a lawsuit against the Turkey Leg Hut claiming their quality of life was reduced due to congested parking conditions created by patrons of the restaurant and heavy smoke emitted from its outdoor smokers.
READ: Neighbors of Turkey Leg Hut go to court over constant smokey environment
Initially, a district court provided temporary relief to the residents, granting a temporary injunction to prevent the restaurant from using its outdoor smokers between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night for two weeks.
READ: Owners of Turkey Leg Hut respond to lawsuit over smokey environment
In response to the lawsuit, the owners of the Turkey Leg Hut restaurant filed and won a temporary restraining order to block the injunction during the week of Thanksgiving in 2019 so that they wouldn’t run out of food during the busy holiday.
RELATED: Turkey Leg Hut wins motion to get relief from temporary restraining order filed by neighbors
Eventually, neighbors suspended the lawsuit, to “give its owners a final chance to immediately address the public health, nuisance and regulatory issues,” a press release read. The group says they may resume legal action against the restaurant if the issues are not addressed.
READ: Neighbors suspend lawsuit against Turkey Leg Hut in Third Ward
July 2020:
Business owner of Bar 5015 Steven Rogers filed a lawsuit against Nakia Price, the majority owner of the TLH Company, claiming breach of fiduciary duty and self-dealing, fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Rogers was seeking at least $100,000 in damages.
July 2021:
Turkey Leg Hut made national news by implementing a new dress code policy. The Third Ward restaurant stated that this policy was necessary to ensure that all customers and staff were dressed appropriately.
READ: Turkey Leg Hut announces new dress code after customer complaints
Owner Nakia Price mentioned receiving complaints from customers regarding the wardrobe choices of other guests.
Dec. 2022:
US Foods, a food service distributor, filed a lawsuit against the Turkey Leg Hut and co-owner Nakia Price. The lawsuit alleges that the restaurant owed US Foods over $1.2 million.
January 2023:
The owners of the Turkey Leg Hut responded to the lawsuit, stating that they were unaware of the pending lawsuit and simply says, the math isn’t adding up.
Feb. 9, 2023:
Steve Rogers filed a lawsuit against the Turkey Leg Hut and Nakia Holmes, seeking over $1 million in monetary relief. The lawsuit was a result of the defendant’s failure to fulfill a redemption agreement that was established on September 3, 2021. According to court documents, the redemption agreement was a comprehensive settlement and release package intended to resolve all outstanding claims between the parties. Rogers, who was an initial investor and owned a significant portion of the Turkey Leg Hut, had agreed to be paid $1,547,500 upon his departure from the company. For a year, the Turkey Leg Hut consistently made payments to Rogers, but they failed to make a scheduled payment in November 2022. In January 2023, they made a final partial payment to Rogers. The lawsuit emphasized the urgency of the situation, as the company was facing numerous claims from creditors. As a result, Rogers was awarded over $900,000 in the lawsuit.
July 2023:
Nakia Holmes gave insight into the marital issues the couple has faced and said that the two parted ways after claiming that Lynn repeatedly abused her. Nakia wrote on social media that the abuse, manipulation, lies, and narcissism from Lynn had become unbearable. court records show that she filed a temporary restraining order against her husband along with other court documents which appear to be sealed.
Feb. 6, 2024:
Lynn Price, one of the founders, and more than half of the business’s employees were reportedly fired.
READ: Turkey Leg Hut reportedly fires half its staff, including owner’s estranged husband
In the email, a consultant for the restaurant said that the decision was made based on the company’s need to align operational costs with financial realities.
March 9, 2024:
A judge ruled that co-owner Lynndell “Lynn” Price and the Turkey Leg Hut in the Third Ward must pay $931,111.12, along with attorney’s fees and taxable court costs. Attorney Sean Roberts, representing Rogers, emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the restaurant was already facing pressure from creditors.
March 9, 2024:
The Turkey Leg Hut’s business office catches fire in Houston’s Third Ward. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the place was extensively damaged. The inside of the office was destroyed.
READ: Turkey Leg Hut’s business office catches on fire near Third Ward
There were pieces of the wall on the floor as well as ashes all over the ground.
March 26, 2024:
The Turkey Leg Hut & Company, LLC. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. When a bankruptcy petition is filed, all collection efforts must cease immediately under section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code.
READ: Houston’s Turkey Leg Hut owner issues statement after declaring bankruptcy
Turkey Leg Hut owner Nakia Holmes issued a statement expressing the company’s commitment to serving the Houston community during the Chapter 11 process.
August 2024:
Lynn Price announced the opening of his newest restaurant location which will be about 75 miles southwest of Houston.
READ: Former Turkey Leg Hut owner Lynn Price set to open Oyster Hut brick-and-mortar
Price opened the Oyster Hut brick-and-mortar in Louise, Texas.
September 2024:
Turkey Leg Hut temporarily closes after the Houston Health Department found several violations.
READ: Turkey Leg Hut closes after Houston Health Dept. finds several violations
In an email sent to KPRC 2, the health department said they ordered the closure on September 19th due to serious health code violations. An inspection revealed 35 violations, which the department says include conditions that “pose an imminent threat to public health.”
Nov. 22, 2024:
The beloved Turkey Leg Hut officially closes its doors. The combination of unpaid bills, ongoing lawsuits, and a heavy financial burden proved too much for the restaurant to overcome.
READ: Houston’s Turkey Leg Hut closes as foreclosure moves forward
Court documents showed the Turkey Leg Hut couldn’t keep up with rent payments, adding to its mounting debts.
In Nov. 2024, the judge’s ruling allowed the landlord to take action on the property, effectively ending the Turkey Leg Hut’s time in Third Ward.
April 2025:
Lyndell Leroy Price, the former owner of famed Houston restaurant The Turkey Leg Hut, has been indicted on three counts by a federal grand jury.
Price was in tears when he was was pulled over and arrested on Thursday after he left his girlfriend’s house, a source familiar with the case told KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry.
READ: Former owner of Turkey Leg Hut arrested after federal grand jury indictment for 2020 bar explosion
The three-count indictment, filed April 8 in the Southern District of Texas, alleges Price and Armani Williams conspired to commit arson at Bar 5015 in June 2020.