The Nell Grace serves more than a meal!
By Joshua Martin
JA Engagement Editor
Just steps away from Farish Street, at 111 E. Church Street in downtown Jackson, The Nell Grace restaurant serves more than a meal. Its owner, Devan Rowe, envisions more than a restaurant. He sees an opportunity to reconnect the present with a part of the city’s history while creating something future generations can call their own.
For Rowe, building a Black owned business in the historic area is deeply personal. The restaurant is not simply an investment in food and hospitality but part of a larger vision for Black ownership, economic growth, and revitalization in downtown Jackson.
“We are not simply opening a restaurant, we are continuing a legacy,” Rowe said.
That legacy is rooted in an area where Black families build businesses, create culture, and support one another. The history of Farish Street and surrounding downtown communities gives Rowe a sense of responsibility to honor what came before while creating something meaningful for what comes next.
“I want people to see that Black owned businesses can still grow, thrive, and create opportunities in downtown Jackson,” he said.
For Rowe, every meal served, musician featured, and person employed at The Nell Grace becomes part of that effort. The lessons of Farish Street, he believes, are still relevant today. Particularly, the importance of keeping economic activity within the community.
“One of the greatest lessons is the importance of circulating our dollars within our own community,” Rowe said.
During Farish Street’s strongest years, Black owned restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and professional services supported each another. The success of one business helped create opportunities for another. Rowe believes Jackson can continue that spirit of collaboration but revitalization cannot rest on the shoulders of just a few businesses.
“We need entrepreneurs, property owners, government, banks, and residents working toward the same vision. We must create an entire ecosystem in which local businesses refer customers to one another, share resources, and grow together,” Rowe said.
That ecosystem is at the heart of Rowe’s long term vision for Farish and Church streets. Five or ten years from now, he wants the area to become a destination centered around “food, music, art, history, and Southern hospitality.”
Rowe sees The Nell Grace as an anchor, surrounded by restored historic properties that could become short term stays for visitors looking to experience Jackson’s culture and history. Rowe envisions guests having dinner and listening to live music at The Nell Grace before staying overnight in a restored historic home, exploring Farish Street and visiting nearby museums, shops, and cultural attractions. It is a vision depending on preservation as much as development.
“These buildings have a character and history that cannot be recreated by tearing them down and starting over,” Rowe said.
Rather than erase the past, Rowe wants to repair and modernize existing properties while preserving the architectural features making them unique.
“Revitalization should not erase the people, culture, or history that made an area important in the first place,” he said. “It should breathe new life into those things.”
That same philosophy extends inside The Nell Grace. The restaurant is rooted in Rowe’s family, with its name carrying a piece of their story. He wants the experience to feel personal, warm, and welcoming, “as though they are being invited into our home and being served food prepared with care.”
The menu reflects that heritage, combining Mississippi soul food with Louisiana Cajun influences. But Rowe says, “We want people to leave remembering more than what they ate. We want them to remember how the food, music, and service made them feel.”
That feeling is part of a much larger purpose. Rowe sees Black owned businesses as catalysts capable of changing how people experience and perceive downtown Jackson. The Nell Grace creates jobs, supports local musicians and vendors, attracts visitors, and gives people another reason to spend time in the city.
“When people consistently see active businesses, restored properties, and positive experiences, their perception of downtown begins to change,” he said.
For Rowe, the future of Jackson cannot simply depend on outside investment. Local entrepreneurs have a role in demonstrating the value that already exists within the city.
“We cannot wait for someone from outside the city to decide Jackson is worth investing in,” he said. “Local entrepreneurs must help demonstrate its value.”
Ultimately, Rowe hopes The Nell Grace becomes proof for the next generation that significant things are being built in Jackson.
“You do not always have to leave Jackson to build something significant,” he said.
His message to aspiring Black entrepreneurs is rooted in ownership and action.
“They can own the business, own the property, and help shape the future of their community,” he said.
And if The Nell Grace inspires another entrepreneur to invest in Jackson, restore a historic property, or create opportunities for others, Rowe believes its greatest success will not be measured by the number of meals served. It will be measured by what comes after.
“Then, The Nell Grace will have accomplished something much greater than operating a successful restaurant,” he said.
For more information on The Nell Grace, visit https://www.thenellgrace.com/.
