LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – When grandma’s recipes are on the menu, you know they’re made with love. But one Lynchburg spot takes family tradition to a new level.
Lula Mae’s is serving up soul food classics in the same building where the owner’s parents first met. We’ll show you in this week’s Hometown Eats!
“This is my baby, this is my world, I take a lot of pride into this restaurant,” said Lula Mae’s owner Tereika Grooms.
Because when grandma’s name is on the building, it just means more. Welcome to Lula Mae’s on Florida Avenue in Lynchburg.
“Never in a million years did I think I would be here,” joked Grooms.
But it’s deeper than the name, Tereika was connected to this building long before she was ever born.
“In this very building it was a night club in the 90s called OJs. My father used to DJ here and my mother used to come here and party, so they met here,” said Grooms.
Talk about love at first sight. So when the opportunity came to buy the building, Tereika jumped on it.
“There was a lot of renovation to be done so it took a lot of time, a lot of overtime, lot of working, lot of money, a lot of thought into it too,” said Grooms.
Worth every penny and every late night, because her family’s story is painted all over this joint. From her dad’s DJ collection of records, tapes and CDs to classic sayings her mother used to tell her.
“I feel like I got two great parents so it’s always great to honor them as a whole. Both of them are still around today and both still come here. Mom is often in the kitchen; dad often comes here and sits in his chair and kind of watches and observes and speaks to people he knows,” said Grooms.
Now, it’s love at first bite.
“What can we do to keep family tradition going like dinner at grandmother’s house on Sundays, how can we incorporate her recipes,” said Grooms.
You might not think it from the outside, but this hidden gem is cut a little differently.
“A place where you wouldn’t naturally go. Let me show you something about this little place I’ve got that’s really special,” said regular customer Nat Marshall.
“It makes you feel like you’re home. You’re walking into grandmother’s house,” said Grooms.
This soul food pays respect to, you guessed it, Grandmother Lula Mae
“I know that she’s proud that we’re still honoring her and carrying out things and doing all the things that she would want us to do. She always wanted me to be successful and separate myself and do things that would set myself apart from others,” said Grooms.
When it comes to the menu, it’s all about family history.
“Everything in our menu comes from a family name or like something related to family. We don’t have anything that is pre-cooked. So, take advantage of your family time and enjoy some games, enjoy the music, enjoy the atmosphere,” said Grooms.
While you’re playing those games, they whipped up the Juke Joint egg rolls, 60 West Platter, and Forks of Buffalo. Finished with a 50-year-old recipe for the homemade apple cake.
Just like back in the day, Lula Mae’s is bringing people together to create fresh memories over comfort food.
“We had a little get together with about 30 or 40 folks and everybody enjoyed it. It’s a good place,” said Marshall.
“I took a challenge, I wanted something different and brought it to the city,” said Grooms.
Lula Mae’s, a hometown eat honoring the past and feeding the future.
Lula Mae’s is located at 1042 Florida Ave, Lynchburg, VA 24504 and is open Friday through Tuesday 9:30am to 4:30pm, Wednesday 11am to 6pm. Closed Thursdays.
Copyright 2026 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
Dining and Cooking