Nana’s Southern Kitchen To Give Out 400 Free Meals To Customers On Christmas Day

Nana’s Southern Kitchen restaurant in Kent is partnering with local NBA star and philanthropist Jamal Crawford and several Microsoft employees to hand out 400 free meals on Christmas Day.

After Crawford announced he was giving away 100 meals at Nana’s on Christmas Day, Microsoft Executive Vice President of Sales Judson Althoff, and Microsoft Corporate Vice Presidents Dametra Johnson-Marletti and Rodney Clark stepped up to match Crawford’s act of kindness.

Due to their combined generosity, the public is invited to come by Nana’s between 11:00 am and 1:00 p.m. on December 25 for one free main with two sides per person. Due to current COVID restrictions, the staff is asking that everyone wear face masks and bring their patience as they work to serve 400 customers.

According to Nana’s owner Todd Minor, the Christmas Day event continues the welcoming spirit of his grandmother and Nana’s namesake Myrtle Henderson. Henderson, affectionately known as Nana, was born in ​Goshen, Virginia and later moved to New Haven, Connecticut. ​As a mother and grandmother, Henderson, cooked and served family and friends the same foods you can enjoy today in the restaurant.

“My great grandmother, Nana, used her food to bring people together, teach life lessons and welcomed everyone,” said Minor, as he reflected on the upcoming event and Nana’s first year in business.

Nana’s serves Southern staples, as takeout, from a fixed menu, including main dishes of fried chicken, catfish, fried shrimp, and pork chops with sides of potato salad, green beans, mustard or collard greens, cabbage, candied yams, and macaroni and cheese. Since opening in December 2019, they have gained a huge following, including Seahawks fan favorite KJ Wright and former Rainier Beach High School standout, and Brooklyn Nets Point Guard Jamal Crawford.

Nana’s Southern Kitchen started as the dream of the Minor family. Despite living on separate coasts, they eventually got everyone together to make it happen. Four generations of the Minor family now live in Kent to support and share their family recipes with the community.

According to Minor, a key component of Nana’s success has been their commitment to customer service. When you walk through the doors at Nana’s you are greeted with a smile, and customers are acknowledged with an equally warm-hearted “Thank you” and/or “Goodbye” when they leave.

“Service was in my Great-Grandma’s DNA,” says Minor. “She made sure everyone always had a full belly whether they were going to work, church, or school. We do the same, ensuring our customers get exceptional service even while on the go with our takeout meals.”

Minor, who is the Senior Director of Microsoft’s Worldwide Commercial Business Sales Academy, co-owns Nana’s with his wife, Tanieka. He is actively engaged in Kent, serving as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner and ran for the city council in 2019. He and Tanieka live on Kent’s East Hill with their 5 children.

Nana’s is open Monday to Saturday ​11:00 am -7:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. You can follow them on Facebook or visit them online at www.NanasSouthernWay.com.

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