Nichelle Thurston is a Southern gal through and through. The Florida native moved to Louisville, KY, at 20, when she began nursing school. But shortly after meeting her husband and having their first child, she started The Seafood Lady out of their home. The venture quickly grew into something bigger than she expected, and the family headed down to Huntsville, AL, to purchase a food truck and grow the business. Today, Nichelle runs a successful brick-and-mortar restaurant in the bustling NuLu neighborhood. Meet Nichelle Thurston, this month’s FACE of Louisville!
You went from nursing student to restaurateur. What led to the career shift?
I was just a girl from Pensacola, Florida, who missed her native cuisine. I wanted seafood, so I started cooking at home. I’d have my meals the way it’s done in the South — served on newspaper and eaten outside on the porch. My next-door neighbors would smell it, and they started asking if I would sell them some. I started selling to close neighbors a couple of days a week, but soon enough, the whole neighborhood found out about it. Over the next six months, people lined up in front of our house. That was in 2016, and it’s basically how The Seafood Lady came to fruition.
What came next?
The business got bigger than we expected. We couldn’t legally continue operating out of our home that way, so we took all the money we made and went down to Huntsville, Alabama, to buy our first food truck. Since then, everything has blown up. Even though we now have our NuLu restaurant, we still have that food truck and take it out several times a week.
When did you open your brick-and-mortar restaurant?
We opened our first restaurant in June 2017, but moved into different locations over the years. Our current space in NuLu opened in April 2021.
It’s such a great space! The bright, bold colors and beachy vibes are so fun. And customers must love the bar.
Yes, in order for us to grow to the next level, we needed to provide alcohol to our guests. We wanted them to dine in, relax, and get the full restaurant experience. Our last location didn’t allow for that, so we made the move to NuLu. It’s the best location we’ve had! We’re so excited and proud of ourselves for being in that community.
Since you’ve moved to NuLu, what has been the most popular menu item?
People fall all over themselves for our crab fries; they just love them to death. People also love the crab bowl, which is the first dish that we ever had. In fact, it was the only dish we had during the first six months of starting the business. It’s not as popular as it was in the beginning, but it’s the dish that got us to where we are today. That’s what got us all the attention.
Speaking of attention, didn’t Guy Fieri pay you a visit?
Yes, [several] years ago! I still don’t know how we were selected; I say it was a blessing from God. It was a three-day thing where they came into the restaurant and tried a variety of dishes. The result was a 30-minute segment that they still air about four times a month. Being on The Food Network definitely helped us gain recognition. Since then, we have also been on the Travel Channel and have been pitched a couple of other TV shows.
That’s amazing. To what do you attribute your success?
I attribute my success to my grandfather. He was a master chef, firefighter, and Navy Seal. He could cook anything and always hosted large parties. I watched him a lot and learned all his ways.
I’m also thankful for all of our supporters. To all the people who have been there for us — whether they’ve purchased a meal, shared a post, or let someone know about us. I just want to say ‘thank you’ to Louisville.
When you’re not busy being The Seafood Lady, what are your favorite places to eat, shop, and play around Louisville?
My favorite place to eat is Dasha Barbours. It’s been one of my favorite restaurants for many years. And I like to shop at Rebellious Kouture, also known as True Rebel. They have really nice things there. Both of those are also woman-owned businesses.
When it comes to play, I like going to the casinos. We usually head to Caesars or Derby City Gaming. I don’t even gamble, really — I just like the atmosphere.
What advice would you offer to someone hoping to start their own business?
Have faith in whatever you want to do, and take your time. It’s not a race! Do your research, stay focused, and have faith. Stand firm in your beliefs and always work hard at your goals.
Conversely, what’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received came from the words of Bill Whalen, “You cannot make everyone happy. I’m a natural people pleaser, so once I realized that, I became happier myself.”
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what are three things you can’t live without?
Social media, hot tea, and the gym.
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Meet more inspiring women from across the South in our FACES archives!
