If you’ve spent time on Almeda anytime within the last year and some change, then you’ve seen the popularity of The Turkey Leg Hut boom. Since 2017, the popular location has turned into a tourist attraction that has landed on numerous year-end and best of lists. Snoop Dogg has endorsed it, same for Kevin Hart and a number of other celebrities.
In fact, business has been booming so much, the owners are expanding to include two food trucks, a Daiquiri Hut and a Breakfast Hut. In other words, they’re preparing to take over the whole block.
But some residents near by, who’ve lived in the area say that the popularity has created growing pains for them.
“There’s much more of a party, drinking culture that we see and it attracts people who want to be a part of that,” Sandra Stevens told KRIV 26. One Instagram user created an account, TurkeyLegHutFails to slam the business and some of their practices.
Stevens, who is president of the nearby Museum Park Neighborhood Association said that the restaurant enables customers to cause parking problems and create noise for those who want peace and quiet. Museum Park is the area that encompasses the Museum District as well as the neighborhoods and areas that border 288, including Third Ward.
“It’s gotten to the point where the residents cant park in front of their own homes, ever, during those peak times. And I get it that the streets belong to the public, but I think part of the issue with the parking is the trash that the customers leave on the street when they leave the Turkey Leg Hut. Unfortunately, when they’ve been heavily drinking, they don’t have inhibitions they would usually exhibit in public. They are urinating in the yards, in people’s front yards and other things that people don’t want in the neighborhood,” Stevens said.
Nakia Price, owner of The Turkey Leg Hut responded to those claims and are working to resolve the parking concerns.
“We try to be good neighbors. I think we’re being proactive instead of being reactive. We’ve secured about six parking lots here just for the Turkey Leg Hut, and it’s still not enough. Just be patient. We hear you. It’s never our intent to upset anyone. My husband and I both grew up in this neighborhood so we understand what it’s like to be good neighbors. So just be patient with us and we hear you,” Price said.
