Rumors are circulating on social media regarding what business will fill the void left by Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen at OWA, which closed recently, suddenly, after four years.

An article posted Jan. 9 on the “Bama Buzz” website stated Ford’s Garage restaurant would be moving into the location. Gulf Coast Media contacted Kristin Hellmich, director of external communications for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, which owns OWA to verify. Hellmich confirmed to Gulf Coast Media that the claim is false.

At the time of the Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen closure on Jan. 3, Hellmich told Gulf Coast Media the next business to fill the vacancy would not be a restaurant but an “entertainment attraction.”

The article posted by Bama Buzz does not name a source but does say “locals have spotted a ‘coming soon’ sign out front for a new restaurant.”

The OWA Parks & Resort marketing team placed “Coming Soon” graphics on the location, as they typically do, to cover the view of the inside of the space before it’s ready to be premiered to the public. Hellmich said she is curious if the assumption of a Ford’s Garage came from clip art images used by the marketing department.

Plans for the new “entertainment attraction” are still being finalized, but Hellmich said they will release information soon on what visitors can expect.

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