Just months after getting married, James and Anita Shaw Tenner started a restaurant.
The Tenners own Madea’s Restaurant, which opened May 11, 2023, in Warren.
“We are so excited to bring the community of Bradley County and surrounding areas great food that feeds the soul,” announced Madea’s Facebook page.
The restaurant’s name and menu honor the Tenners’ mothers and their home-style cooking. They want to share their legacy of sit-down, home-style meals.
Anita is a registered nurse and nursing instructor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. She contacted the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at UAM last May about her plans to open a restaurant with her fiancé.
James was an experienced restaurateur and was moving to Warren, where his bride-to-be already lived.
The center’s Aimee Weaver helped the couple develop a formal business plan and financial projections, which they used to obtain a startup loan from Union Bank.
The Tenners purchased and remodeled property on Main Street for Madea’s. The restaurant serves smoked and fried chicken, fish, ribs, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials.
“The ASBTDC was awesome in helping with our business plan and providing emotional support. We could not have done this without their assistance,” said Anita.
