Jonas Family's Las Vegas Restaurant Nellie's Southern Kitchen Is Closing

Another celebrity-backed Las Vegas restaurant is preparing to say goodbye. Nellie's Southern Kitchen, the Jonas family's Southern-inspired eatery at the MGM Grand, is officially closing its doors this month.

According to a May 15, 2026, statement from MGM Resorts International, Nellie's Southern Kitchen, founded by the Jonas family and inspired by generations of Southern cooking traditions, will close after service on May 25.

MGM also confirmed there are currently no immediate plans to replace the space. The Las Vegas restaurant opened in June 2022 near the MGM Grand Garden Arena as an extension of the original Nellie's Southern Kitchen in Belmont, North Carolina.

According to Kevin Sr., many of the recipes had been passed down through multiple generations of the Jonas family before being adapted for the restaurant's chefs.

The venue was launched by Denise Jonas, Kevin Jonas Sr., their sons Kevin, Joe, Nick, and Franklin Jonas, along with investment firm TLI Bedrock.

At the time of the grand opening, the Jonas Brothers were performing their Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live and attended the restaurant's debut alongside their family.

The Restaurant Was Inspired by Family Recipes

Nellie's Southern Kitchen was named after Kevin Sr.'s late grandmother, whose recipes and Southern hospitality inspired the concept behind the restaurant.

Kevin Sr. previously shared that he grew up in his grandparents' home in Belmont, where his grandmother would return from working at a cotton mill and cook meals for the family. He said when the Las Vegas location was announced:

"We want you to find that Southern hospitality and comfort that my grandmother represented."

The restaurant became known for serving Southern-inspired comfort food, including chicken and dumplings, fried chicken with macaroni and cheese, collard greens, chicken and waffles, fried catfish, and cheddar-chive biscuits.

According to Kevin Sr., many of the recipes had been passed down through multiple generations of the Jonas family before being adapted for the restaurant's chefs.

The Jonas Family Shared Personal Connections to the Restaurant

The Jonas family frequently spoke about their favorite dishes and the emotional connection behind the restaurant. Kevin reportedly enjoyed the sweeter menu items, including Crunchy Chicken Tenders coated in Captain Crunch cereal.

Joe preferred lighter dishes like the seasonal salad and molasses glazed salmon, while Nick was a fan of the Hawg Hill Sandwich. Franklin, on the other hand, favored the Chicken N'Gravy.

Executive chef Mario Nichols previously described the restaurant as a place centered around comfort, family, and generosity. "It's just like going to your mother's or your grandmother's," he said in 2023. Music also played a major role in the restaurant's atmosphere.

Kevin Sr. explained that both the Belmont and Las Vegas locations were designed to reflect the Jonas family's love of music, featuring live performances and playlists ranging from the Jonas Brothers to The Beatles.

Joe also spoke about the significance of opening a restaurant beside the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the band had created many memories performing over the years. He said when the venue opened:

"Las Vegas has always had a special place in our hearts."

The Family Plans to Focus on the Original Location

While the Las Vegas outpost is closing, the original Nellie's Southern Kitchen in Belmont remains open and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. In a statement, restaurant spokesperson Manolis Alpogianis thanked both staff and customers for supporting the Las Vegas location over the years.

He said the decision came as the restaurant's lease approached expiration and described it as a strategic move to focus on long-term efforts elsewhere. For now, fans of the restaurant still have a few final days to visit the Las Vegas location before it officially closes on May 25.