LEXINGTON, N.C. – JJ’s Mama’s Soulfood & More, the Black-owned restaurant that had folks lined up down the block in 2025, has officially been ordered to give up its Lexington location after a magistrate ruled in favor of the landlord over unpaid rent and utility bills.
According to court records reviewed by The North Carolina Beat, the case was filed by the Tony Orrell Revocable Trust against JJ’s Mama’s Soulfood & More, LLC and owner Tyleata Jones. The property in question is the now-infamous location at 601 W. 5th Avenue in Lexington.
The lawsuit, filed as a summary ejectment — North Carolina’s legal route for eviction — claims the business fell behind financially despite its viral success.
Court documents show the restaurant had a monthly rent of $1,200, with rent due March 1, 2026. But according to the complaint, that payment wasn’t made. The landlord also accused the business of failing to reimburse utility costs — including $1,592.39 for February and $1,552.48 for March.
On top of that, April’s rent — another $1,200 — was also allegedly unpaid.
Altogether, the landlord claimed JJ’s Mama’s owed a total of $3,144.87 tied to unpaid utilities and rent.
The complaint further states the landlord made a demand for payment and even waived the typical 10-day grace period before moving forward with eviction proceedings.
At the court hearing on April 13, the magistrate didn’t hesitate. The ruling was in favor of the landlord.
According to the judgment, the court found the landlord “proved the case by the greater weight of the evidence” and was entitled to repossess the property. The order also made it clear there was “no dispute” over at least part of the money owed — listing $520 in rent arrears that went uncontested.
Tyleata Jones and the business have been ordered to vacate the property by April 30, 2026.
If Jones and the business do not vacate by April 30, the plaintiff can go back and seek a writ of possession, which is the court order that allows the sheriff to remove occupants from the property.
The money issues were not fully closed out in this judgment. While the complaint laid out claims involving thousands in utility reimbursements and unpaid rent, the judgment makes clear that the issue of monies would be held open.
This is the same restaurant that blew up just last year after viral food reviewer Keith Lee pulled up and stamped it as a must-try spot.
“I’VE NEVER NOT PAID MY RENT”
Weeks before a Davidson County magistrate officially ordered the Lexington restaurant out over unpaid rent and utility bills, Jones went live with an emotional message… and it’s very different from what showed up in court.
In a March 24, 2026 video, Jones broke down in tears while telling supporters the building had been sold — and that her time at the location was already running out.
“Hey y’all… I have to come to y’all with some bad news. My building has been sold,” Jones said in the video. “I’ve tried everything to try to secure the building… because I didn’t have business credit, it didn’t go the way I wanted.”
According to Jones, she had hoped to work out a deal where part of her rent payments would go toward eventually purchasing the building — but says that agreement never materialized.
“I was told I would have 10 to 45 days to leave… 10 at the least, 45 days at the most,” she said.
While court records claim JJ’s Mama’s failed to pay rent and thousands in utility reimbursements — totaling more than $3,000 — Jones insists she’s not the type to just not pay.
“I’ve never not paid my rent. I’ve never not paid my rent,” she said repeatedly in the video. “I’ve probably been a little late, but I’ve never not paid them in five years.”
Jones claims the situation spiraled after her phone was stolen and she mailed rent checks instead of handling payments digitally. According to her, the landlord believed she was avoiding payment — even though she says she had proof the checks were sent.
“They put a note on my door saying I had 10 days… when I sent out a check and I had proof,” she said.
Still, the court ultimately sided with the landlord.
Meanwhile, in her video, Jones was already preparing for what she called a “new chapter” — asking the public for financial help to stay afloat.
“I’m going to start a GoFundMe… to try to get a food truck or a smaller location,” she said. “Y’all know I don’t ask for much… but this time I’m asking.”
She even hinted at possibly leaving Lexington altogether.
“I don’t know if I want to be in Lexington anymore… I feel like this was just a setup against me,” Jones said, suggesting deeper frustrations with the situation.
