Sue's Baby celebrates new chapter 

JASPER — Sue Baby’s Kitchen celebrated a major milestone in Jasper with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the latest chapter for a business that began years ago in a food truck. Owners Lashonta and Charles Burnett first built Sue Baby’s Kitchen as a mobile food operation. After finding success and building a loyal following, the couple expanded the business into a permanent restaurant where customers can now sit down and dine. Lashonta, a Jasper native, said opening a brick-and-mortar location has been the result of years of work, support and faith. “It feels great, but I count it all joy and I thank God because it’s a long time coming,” Burnett said. “A lot of hard work. It’s just a great feeling, but I don’t take credit. I give all the credit to God.” The ribbon cutting drew a large crowd of family, friends, customers and community supporters, something Burnett said meant a great deal to both her and Charles. “The love and the support has been great,” she said. “We have experienced so many acts of kindness in this community.” Burnett expressed her appreciation for everyone who came out to support the restaurant and credited God for making the opening possible. The transition from food truck to dine-in restaurant reflects the growth of Sue Baby’s Kitchen and the support the Burnetts have received from the community over the years. For customers visiting for the first time, Burnett said her personal favorites are the grilled shrimp and grilled fish, although she encouraged diners to explore the menu and find their own favorite. “We have a lot of Sue Baby goodies,” Burnett said. “Try and see and then make it your favorite.” The restaurant is aiming to operate Tuesday through Saturday, with some Sunday service planned. Breakfast service is also being added. For the Burnetts, the ribbon cutting represented more than the opening of a restaurant. It marked the evolution of a small food truck into a permanent hometown business built through hard work, community support and faith.