Turkey Leg Hut documentary set to film in Houston

Turkey Leg Hut Documentary Captures a Houston Saga

A Turkey Leg Hut documentary is in production in Houston, promising to unravel the dramatic story of a beloved restaurant’s ascent and collapse. Hillionaire Productions, led by Houston-based filmmaker Jami McCoy-Lankford, will begin filming “The Rise and Fall of The Turkey Leg Hut” next week, chronicling the restaurant’s journey from a Rodeo food stand to a cultural phenomenon undone by scandal.

Founded by Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price, the Houston restaurant drew crowds and celebrities before closing in November 2024 amid lawsuits, arson charges, and personal turmoil. Fans are eager for the film to reveal the truth behind the web of lies, betrayal, drugs, and arson that defined its downfall. This article explores the Turkey Leg Hut documentary, its founders’ story, celebrity connections, and other celebrity restaurants that closed unexpectedly.

Rise and Fall: From Rodeo Stand to Ruin

The rise and fall of the Turkey Leg Hut is a tale of ambition and unraveling. Founded in 2015 by Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price, the Houston restaurant started as a food stand at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, serving oversized smoked turkey legs with toppings like crawfish mac and cheese. By 2017, its brick-and-mortar at 4830 Almeda Road became a Third Ward staple, drawing long lines and viral fame. “The rise and fall started with those crazy-good legs,” a former patron recalled.

Success brought challenges. Lawsuits piled up, including a $1.2 million claim from US Foods for unpaid bills and neighbor complaints about smoke and noise. A controversial dress code in 2019 sparked backlash. While a 2024 fire and 35 health code violations led to a Houston Health Department closure. The final blow came with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing in 2024, as Holmes blamed Price’s mismanagement. The Turkey Leg Hut documentary will trace this arc, showing how a Houston restaurant went from icon to infamy.

Turkey Leg Hut Documentary: A Story Unveiled

The Turkey Leg Hut documentary, announced on June 2, 2025, via posts on X, is a Hillionaire Productions project helmed by Jami McCoy-Lankford, known for biopics on BET and Lifetime. McCoy-Lankford, who met Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price in 2024 while scouting their Almeda Road building, said both founders expressed interest in sharing their story. “We have the opportunity to set the record straight,” she told theJasmineBRAND. Filming begins next week, focusing on the restaurant’s rise and fall, with interviews from Holmes, Price, and community figures.

The project gained momentum after Price’s April 2025 indictment for conspiring to set fire to Bar 5015, a rival Houston bar, in 2020. The Turkey Leg Hut documentary aims to explore the restaurant’s cultural impact and unravel the scandals—financial mismanagement, drug allegations, and personal disputes—that led to its closure. Fans are buzzing, with one X post calling it “a must-watch for Houston foodies.” The film, expected to release in 2026, seeks to answer why a Houston restaurant with such promise fell apart.

Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price: A Fractured Partnership

Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price, once a power couple, are central to the Turkey Leg Hut documentary’s narrative. Holmes, a University of Houston alum, and Price, a Third Ward native, built the Houston restaurant with no culinary background. Purely, relying on grit and creativity. Their personal and professional split defined the restaurant’s demise. Holmes filed for divorce in May 2023, alleging Price’s emotional abuse and financial misconduct. In February 2024, she fired Price, citing “financial discrepancies” uncovered during a review.

Price’s legal woes escalated with his April 2025 arrest for orchestrating the 2020 Bar 5015 arson. Which caused $750,000 in damage. He pleaded not guilty, but allegations of drug trafficking—1,000 pounds of marijuana stored at the restaurant—further tarnished his name. Holmes distanced herself, telling ESSENCE, “My focus is protecting my peace.” The Turkey Leg Hut documentary will explore how Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price’s fallout fueled the Houston restaurant’s collapse, offering their perspectives on the betrayal.

Houston Restaurant: Celebrity Hotspot

The Houston restaurant was a magnet for celebrities, boosting its cultural cachet. Stars like Rick Ross, who raved about the stuffed turkey legs on Instagram, Kevin Hart, spotted dining in 2019, and Allen Iverson, who visited in 2021, made it a must-visit. Rapper 50 Cent and comedian Dave Chappelle were seen there also. While Houston natives Trae Tha Truth and Paul Wall hosted events there.

The Turkey Leg Hut documentary will highlight these star-studded moments, showcasing how the Houston restaurant became a Third Ward landmark. Its social media presence, with viral videos of shrimp alfredo-topped legs, amplified its fame, drawing tourists and locals alike. Yet, the celebrity glow couldn’t shield it from scandals, as legal and personal issues overshadowed its culinary success, leading to its unexpected closure.

Fame Isn’t Enough: The Celebrity Restaurant Bubble

The Turkey Leg Hut now joins a growing list of celebrity-backed restaurants that have shuttered unexpectedly—an unsettling trend the upcoming documentary may put into sharper context. Despite fame, foot traffic, and media buzz, many high-profile dining ventures have crumbled under financial pressure, operational missteps, or internal disputes.

Kevin Hart’s vegan fast food chain, Hart House, which launched to much fanfare in Los Angeles, closed multiple locations in 2024 due to operational challenges and stiff competition in the plant-based market. In 2019, Nelly’s St. Lunatics Café in St. Louis abruptly shut down following financial disagreements and poor management, despite the rapper’s hometown appeal.

Jay-Z’s iconic 40/40 Club, once a Manhattan nightlife staple, shut its doors in 2022 amid lease negotiations.In addition to rising rent—even with its A-list clientele. Kanye West’s series of Fatburger franchises in Chicago folded back in 2011. Unfortunately, as victims of an economic downturn and overextension of the brand. Even Paula Deen’s Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah scaled back operations in 2024. Especially, as controversy and tourism slumps cut into the once-thriving business.

These closures share common threads: financial instability, public controversies, and the harsh reality that celebrity cachet doesn’t guarantee sustainability. The Turkey Leg Hut documentary may explore these parallels—offering a cautionary tale about the fragility of fame, especially when mixed with food, finances, and friction.

Anticipation Builds Around Turkey Leg Hut Doc

Fans on X are hyped for the Turkey Leg Hut documentary. “Can’t wait for this Turkey Leg Hut documentary—Houston’s wildest food story!” one posted. Another wrote, “Rise and fall of TLH? This doc’s gonna spill all the tea!” A third said, “Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price’s drama needs a movie.” Supporters add, “Houston restaurant stories hit different—TLH’s doc will be fire.” One fan noted, “Turkey Leg Hut documentary better show those celebrity visits!”

What’s Next for the Documentary?

Filming for the Turkey Leg Hut documentary starts next week, with Hillionaire Productions aiming for a 2026 release. McCoy-Lankford plans to include archival footage, celebrity testimonials, and Third Ward voices to capture the Houston restaurant’s impact. Holmes and Price, despite their rift, are cooperating, offering raw insights into their journey. The film may also cover Price’s ongoing arson trial, set for late 2025, which could see him face 20 years.

The Turkey Leg Hut documentary could redefine the restaurant’s legacy. Further highlighting Black entrepreneurship and Third Ward pride while exposing its pitfalls. “This is Houston’s story,” McCoy-Lankford said, per Houston Chronicle. As fans await the film, the rise and fall of Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price’s dream remains a cautionary tale for Houston’s food scene in 2025.

The Turkey Leg Hut Story Heads to the Screen

The upcoming Turkey Leg Hut documentary, currently filming in Houston, is poised to unravel the dramatic story behind one of the city’s most talked-about restaurants. From Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price’s humble beginnings as a Rodeo stand to becoming a celebrity hotspot in the Third Ward, the film will explore the highs and lows of their journey.

Produced by Hillionaire Productions, the documentary dives into a complex narrative filled with succes, scandal, and personal fallout. Including allegations of arson, drug use, and a high-profile divorce. In the tradition of other celebrity-run restaurants that faced abrupt closures, Turkey Leg Hut’s rise and fall promises to be both cautionary and compelling. As anticipation builds, the film aims to shed light on the real story. Specificallym behind the brand that once helped redefine Houston’s food scene.